Dynamics of Higher Education in Punjab

The present study attempts to review the growth of higher education in state of Punjab based on three parameters: number of institutions (including universities, colleges of general education and professional education), enrollment of students in various courses and teachers employed during the period 1990**2014. For an in-depth analysis, average annual growth rate were calculated during the period 19902014, which is further divided into three sub-periods: P₂ (1990**1999), P₃ (2000**2009), P₄ (2010**2014). The results reveal that due to social and political pressure, the higher education system in Punjab, especially, private universities and professional colleges has expanded rapidly during the period 2004**14, but this expansion is without proportionate improvement of essential infrastructure facilities and faculty employment. This affects quality and standard of higher education in the State adversely. The study advocates adoption of effective measures to mobilize financial resources and reassessment of courses offered, so as to ensure better job placements and implementation of public**private partnership for better management of higher education institutes.