Types of Higher Education in India

Did you know that the country of India has an extensive system of higher education that is attempting to rival that of the United States of America? However, there exist some differences between the Indian system and the American system, as the system in India is undergoing modifications and changes. India became independent from the British Empire on August 15th, 1947, and recently the trend has been to move more toward the American system of higher education.

Types of Education

Distance Education

The University Grants Commission (UGC) oversees Open and Distance Learning (ODL) throughout the country. The ODL includes:

• Correspondence Course Institutes (CCIs)
• Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
• State Open Universities (SOUs)

One major benefit of distance learning is the student and the educator can be at different locations during the learning process. Further, flexible scheduling allows students to fit in classes around their busy lives, and ultimately update critical and desirable work skills. Distance learning also allows persons that live in remote or mountainous regions to pursue an education.

Formal, General, Non-formal, and Informal Educations

Formal education is that which involves an education system running from primary school through the college years. What is a general education in India, as opposed to a more specialized education? That is hard to clarify, as India's system is changing and differences exist between state and private universities. Central Universities also have their own curricula. One survey found that a general education in India cost nine times less than a technical education in India. Non-formal education is still organized but operates separately from the formal system. Informal education, sometimes known as street smarts, involves learning through day-to-day life activities.

Professional and Technical Educations

In the country of India, medical studies fall into the category of a professional education. Top-ranked medical schools include the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in the capital of New Delhi and the St. Johns Medical College in Bangalore.

Aeronautical, management, and pharmaceutical studies in India are placed into the category of technical education.

Top-rated aeronautical schools in India include the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) in Mumbai, the Bengal Engineering and Science University in West Bengal, and the Amrita Institute of Technology and Sciences in Tamil Nadu.

One ranking of management schools in India places the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM-B) at number one.

Value Education

This used to be a staple of Indian education, but changing times and morals have significantly overshadowed it. However, some Indian educators are determined to bring it back to the forefront. Value education is also sometimes known by the terms personality development or life skills.

A value education emphasizes, among other ideals:

• Compassion
• Honesty
• Responsibility
• Trust

These ideals are meant to counter:

• Corruption
• Intolerance
• Violence

Value Based Integrity Learning (VBIL) has even been introduced, which recommends that value should be linked into all lessons.