Indian Higher Education Sector-Growth Unlimited, Opportunities Aplenty!

The Indian education sector has been recognized as a “Sunrise Sector” for investment in the recent past. This recognition stems from the fact that the sector offers a huge untapped market in regulated and non-regulated segments due to low literacy rate, high concentration in urban areas and growing per capita income. The Government has also been proactively playing the role of facilitator in this sector.

The higher education sector, owing to its huge potential, holds very promising prospects. With an estimated 150 mn people in the age group of 18-23 years, the sector offers one of the most attractive yet highly complex markets for the private/foreign players. Despite some inherent concerns with respect to choice of entity, not for profit character and foreign investment in formal education space; the industry does offer various innovative business opportunities, which can be explored for establishing a presence.

Industry Trends

The Indian Education sector is characterized by a unique set of attributes:-

1. Collaboration with foreign players – Increasing affordability and growing demand in quality education drives foreign player entry.

2. Multi campus model – To facilitate scalability, institutes are increasingly adopting multi campus model.

3. Increasing adoption of technology – Technology solutions are gaining grounds in form of campus management software packages. This enhances quality, accessibility and increasing intervention

4. Indian players expanding abroad – Recognition of Indian education in global standpoint and ability of Indian players to compete globally.

5. Stricter policy landscape – AICTE aims to bring in new era of accountability and transparency