Bridging the gender gap in higher education is fundamental throughout India. Education is the yardstick by which the growth and development of a country are delineated, and it helps to discipline the mind, sharpen the intellect and refine the spirit. There has been a phenomenal growth in the number of women enrolling in higher education in India since the country gained independence, with around 45% of female admissions to such institutions in recent years. This collection explores the role of women in higher education, their emergence as a strong force for social change, and the implications of this on society. It also discusses technology’s impact on women’s education, constraints on women in higher education, and issues and challenges for women in the workplace.

With special reference to Kerala.

This book explores the interplay between actors within educational institutions, organisational structure, commitment of senior leadership, involvement of faculty and students, and evaluation instruments in order to find ways of improving the quality of teaching.

This handbook is an important reference work in understanding education systems in the South Asia region, their development trajectory, challenges and potential. The handbook includes the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries for discussion---Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka---while also considering countries such as Myanmar and the Maldives that have considerable shared history in the region. Such a comparative perspective is largely absent within the literature given the present paucity of intra-regional interaction. South Asian education systems are viewed primarily through a development lens in terms of inequalities, challenges and responses. However, the development of modern institutions of education and the challenges that it faces requires cultural and historical understanding of indigenous traditions as well as indigenous modern thinkers and education movements. Therefore, this encompassing referenc e work covers indigenous education traditions, formal education systems, including school and preschool education, higher and professional education, education financing systems and structures, teacher education systems, addressing huge linguistic and other diversities, and marginalization within the formal education system, and pedagogy and curricula. All the countries in this region have their own unique geographical, cultural, economic and political character and histories of interest and significance, and have responded to common issues such as overcoming the colonial legacy, language diversity, or girls’ education, or minority rights in education, in uniquely different ways. The sections therefore include country-specific perspectives as far as possible to highlight these issues. Internationally renowned specialists of South Asian education systems have contributed to this important reference work, making it an invaluable resource for researchers and students of education interested in South Asia.

The book analyses various challenges emanating from privatization, globalization and public financial crunch to understand the future directions of higher education in India. The book presents a careful understanding of structure, finance and governance of higher education and advocates a new way to look at increasing the capability of students to secure their future. Attention has also been drawn to the inequalities prevailing in the system of higher education and pursuing inclusive approach so as to have sufficient employment opportunities for students in the labour market. The book is divided into three parts. Part 1 deals with the future in terms of university structure and functions, Part 2 deals with the future of financing higher education and Part 3 deals with capabilities required by teachers for the future of universities. It is an interesting collection of various themes in different chapters which are authored by serious researchers. All policy makers, university administrators and teachers and researchers of higher education interested in governance, financing, teaching as well as research in the area of higher education will find the contents of the book relevant. The book will benefit in understanding the challenges of higher education and help remodel the future of higher education in India.

Contributed articles with reference to India from a national seminar on "Quality of higher education in India: the challenge to change", organized by University Business School, Punjab University on Nov. 18-19, 2003; sponsored by ICSSR.