Student enrollment is one of the important indicators for the growth and long-term success of any institute. However, the declining number of students enrolling in both public and private institutions has become a concerning issue for college owners and leaders. It is essential to understand why enrollment is declining in recent times. There are many various reasons:
Student enrollment is crucial as it connects with the institution’s worth and sustainability in the higher education market. So if the number is declining, one of the reasons could be the emergence of new learning platforms. However, there are many factors, such as the growing competition across the world, economic and demographic changes in the country, and, most importantly, changes in student goals in the AI age.
The objective of this article is to explore the reasons for the growing disinterest among students in applying to Indian colleges and the steps that colleges could take to address this problem.
Reviving Student Enrollment in Indian Colleges: Challenges and Solutions
1. Evolving Aspirations and Career Preferences of Students
The primary reason for the revival of Indian colleges is students’ aspirations for higher education. Over time, their views on pursuing degrees and careers have changed. Some traditional degrees, including Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc), are regarded by the students as essential and enough for success. Preferences have instead shifted to vocational courses that are skill-based and can be completed in a shorter period, leading to immediate employability.
As per the AISHE 2020-21 report, India’s total Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) increased from 26.3 in 2018 to 27.1 in 2020, albeit growth in this ratio has been modest over the years. However, more students are now showing interest in professional skill development programs. The growing enrollment in computer science, engineering, and healthcare degrees highlights a preference for courses with better job prospects.
Moreover, the rise of platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, and Unacademy allows students to learn the skills they need without completing a three- or four-year degree. These platforms offer affordable, skill-based courses that can be taken from the comfort of your home. This has led many students to choose these options over traditional college courses.
2. Affordability and Accessibility Issues
Education costs are becoming an issue for many students and their families. The cost of education at private universities and some public universities has skyrocketed, making it difficult for low- and middle-income families to afford basic education. As per the study conducted by the Hindu in the year 2020, the cost of a private engineering degree in India ranged from INR 3 to 10 lakhs, which is unaffordable for many households, especially those in rural areas.
Moreover, the financial burden of higher education continues to be a challenge for students, despite government policies offering scholarships and financial aid. This forces students to drop out of college or opt for quick, cheaper courses that lead directly to jobs. The pandemic has made things worse, as families who have been struggling financially are unlikely to be able to afford their children’s higher education today.
Additionally, accessibility remains an issue in some areas, with most students in rural regions seeking quality colleges close by. Many aspirants avoid taking admission in rural educational institutions due to lack of adequate infrastructure, transport and accommodation.
3. Increased Competition from New-Age Learning Platforms
Another reason for the declining enrollment is the competition from online platforms. The global shift towards remote learning, further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has benefited students who prefer not to commit to a specific degree path.
Platforms such as Vedantu and Coursera are becoming very popular in India as they offer relatively simple and often cheaper courses that are better suited to the needs of today’s job market. Many students and working individuals prefer them as they get the relevant certificates faster and at a lower cost than conventional institutions.
With the emergence of online education, such as MOOCs and edtech company Pivot, more students can now turn to online classes instead of the traditional system. After all, one can simply stay at home and use these platforms to earn certificates from reputable universities, which can be a better option than enrolling in a college or university.
4. Outdated Curriculum and Teaching Methods
Most Indian colleges and universities are still hindered by constant reliance on outdated curricula, teaching practices, and strategies that are disconnected from global and industry needs, creating ongoing challenges for the education sector. Many college students struggle to achieve strong results due to a heavy reliance on rote memorization, an overemphasis on theoretical knowledge, and an excessive number of lectures, rather than focusing on practical topics relevant to today’s workforce.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 highlights the introduction of flexibility, interdisciplinarity and practical aspects in learning to make students highly adaptable in the job market. However, some institutions may fall short in implementing these changes, resulting in wasted time and missed opportunities. As a result, students are increasingly opting for hands-on courses and certifications that address real-world scenarios like data analytics, digital marketing, and coding, which are more aligned with the current job market.
For instance, NASSCOM reported an increasing deficit of tech and IT professionals. There is a great market for them in India, but this has to be done in a way that the traditional context evolves faster so that students can be prepared for the workforce in a meaningful way. Colleges that are sticking with old syllabuses need help to enroll students who have much more knowledge about the job market and its expectations than they had just a few years ago.
5. Regional and Language Barriers
India’s linguistic diversity, regional multilingualism, and multiculturalism also deter some students from enrolling. While several educational institutions offer courses in English, a significant portion of the country’s rural population prefers education in local languages. For colleges to accommodate this, they risk losing many talented students.
Another reason is the education gap between urban and rural India. Students in rural areas often face challenges such as lack of access, cost of services, lack of awareness. Most students require some preparation and resources to pass the entrance exams and admission procedures required by top colleges and universities, leading them to choose alternative options. However, some financial institutions are working to bridge this gap by supporting rural education. These institutions provide affordable loans to private schools in rural areas, helping them enhance their infrastructure and improve the overall quality of education. Read more here.
6. Perception of Degree Value and Employability
Today, students have developed a different mindset than older generations, where they analyze things in terms of return on investment (ROI). Many believe that a degree alone, especially in non-professional fields, offers minimal returns in terms of securing suitable employment.
According to the Economic Survey 2023-24, while India produces millions of graduates every year, only about 51.25% of the country’s youth is employable.
This perception directly impacts enrollment rates, as students often feel frustrated after spending years and lakhs of rupees on a degree, only to remain unemployed. That’s how institutions lacking strong industry affiliations, internship opportunities, and job placement services risk losing students to those that provide better career prospects.
7. Impact of COVID-19 and Uncertain Future
The pandemic has been detrimental to the world, including higher education in India. Only a few educational institutions have been able to operate sustainably, leading to students postponing or dropping out of college as their families faced financial hardship. Additionally, the unpredictability of physical attendance and the shift to e-learning have further distorted enrollment ratios.
Even after the pandemic, many students and parents remain concerned about the safety and quality of their education. Institutions of higher education that struggle to adapt to online learning or hybrid models risk being at a disadvantage in attracting new students.
Steps Colleges and Universities Can Take to Boost Enrollment
To address these challenges, colleges and universities must proactively adapt to the changing educational landscape. Here are some strategies to consider:
1. Revamp the Curriculum
Colleges must revise the course structure to match industry needs and international standards. They may also introduce new programs such as data science, AI, cybersecurity, and renewable, among others, for students interested in relevant skills that are likely to be pertinent.
2. Offer Flexible Learning Models
A mix of in-person and traditional learning approaches can meet the needs of new and senior students. Part -time, weekends, or remote learning approaches can also suit employees.
3. Strengthen Industry Partnerships
Having good relationships with the industry and providing work-based opportunities like internships, volunteering, and campus recruitment drives can help improve the potential of graduates. This would make the college appealing to new students.
4. Focus on Affordability
Colleges need to consider increasing the number of scholarship programs and improving access to financial aid packages or partnerships with financial institutions that provide student loans.
5. Improve Marketing and Outreach
Proper marketing techniques such as social media advertising, collaborations with various colleges, digital advertising, would quickly expand university coverage and attract students from different areas.
6. Address Regional Needs
Providing courses in local dialects in addition to providing for accommodation needs, transport, and accessibility concerns of children from rural areas can increase enrollment from these regions.
Conclusion
The problem of falling enrollment in Indian colleges is multifaceted, caused by numerous factors, including the evolution of student aspirations, the rise of online education, mediocre teaching styles, and financial challenges. College leaders need to address such problems and undertake the necessary steps to transform their campus to ensure better enrollment and retention in the cutthroat competition in the education sector.
FAQs
1. What are the problems of enrollment?
Enrollment issues can arise due to high fee structures, lack of finances and program awareness. Noteworthy, for students, geographic location and availability of jobs after graduation are other program barriers. Other reasons, such as family responsibilities or mental health, discourage students from enrolling. Overall, these barriers shrink the student enrollment rate and diversity of college students.
2. How do you convince college students to enroll?
To get college students to enrol in the program, it helps to show the career aspects of the program, including assistance in finding employment and building skills. Offering scholarships and different payment options can also help. Making clear that there are mechanisms on the campus that can help one grow as a person, and the person feels that those mechanisms should be used can also deal with the concerns of students. Engaging the student by going to them at the campuses or having them listen to their peers builds their trust and desire to join the program.
3. What are the problems of enrollment?
Enrollment problems result from educational inflation, absence of finances in conjunction with deficiency of the programs, or both or the same issue of adequate finances. Sometimes, the rationale behind why people enrol is that the entry is too complicated or other factors like education are too fundamental. These barriers make it harder for students to qualify for higher education, and that causes the enrolment rate to decline.
4. What is the biggest struggle for college students?
Apart from the financial and personal considerations, the greatest struggle for college students is their course load. Count the high amounts of money needed to pay for a course and several part-time jobs with debt, and well, the pressure piles up to allow poor grades amongst these students. Focusing on mental wellness, friendships, and career advancements makes them more challenging. When all these pressures add up simultaneously, college life is rough for students and stressful.
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