Syllabus: GS-II & V: Education

Why in the News?

India’s Open Universities (OUs) are receiving renewed national attention as Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University (KKHSOU) marks its 20th Foundation Day at a moment when India faces an unprecedented higher education challenge. 

More About the News

• A recent CII–Grant Thornton Bharat Report (2025) states that to achieve the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 target of a 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2035.
• India must accommodate 86.11 million learners, requiring an 85% expansion in the next decade—far beyond the capacity of traditional universities.
• In this shifting landscape, the evolving role of Open Universities has become central to India’s educational future.

Why Do Open Universities Matter Today?

India’s higher education system is undergoing a transformation driven by four structural realities:

• A massive youth population (over 65% below 35 years).
  
• Persistent low GER in several states, including Assam (18%).
  
• High dropout rates due to economic pressures and social constraints.
  
• A widening employability gap between formal education and labour market demands.
  

Open Universities—owing to their pillars of accessibility, affordability, flexibility, and scalability—are uniquely positioned to respond where conventional institutions fall short.

Key Drivers Strengthening the Role of Open Universities

1. NEP 2020 Integration: OUs as the Natural Implementers

The NEP’s vision—multidisciplinarity, multiple entry–exit options, Academic Bank of Credits, digital learning, and competency-based education—aligns directly with the structural model of OUs.

• KKHSOU is the first OU in India to launch the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (July 2023).
  
• Modular curricula, life skills, digital fluency, and skill enhancement courses reflect NEP’s learner-centric approach.
  

2. Expanding Access at Scale

KKHSOU alone contributes 11% of Assam’s total GER, enrolling 1.29 lakh new learners across 50+ programmes in three sessions (2022–2025).

• 338 study centres, including 30 in district jails, ensure deep last-mile reach.
  
• Over 195,000 active learners, many from rural, marginalised and working backgrounds.
  

This democratisation of higher education is essential for inclusive development.

3. Addressing Employability Head-on

India’s demographic dividend risks becoming a demographic burden unless employability improves.
Open Universities are creating skill-linked ecosystems:

• Graduate Employability Enhancement Programme (2025) with Learnet Skills.
  
• A three-year project with Commonwealth of Learning for embedding employability into curricula.
  
• Establishment of a Skill Development Centre; vocational qualifications submitted to NCVET.
  
• New programmes: MA Yoga, BLIS, vocational courses in Geriatric Care and Solar Panel Installation.
  

4. Digital Transformation: The Next Learning Revolution

Open Universities are leading India’s digital learning expansion:

• KKHSOU hosts 29 Massive Open Online Courses on the SWAYAM platform, reaching over 30,000 learners every semester.
  
• A new Online Examination Centre, Educational Multimedia Production Centre, and adoption of e-Samarth governance modules strengthen digital capacity.
  
• 91,539 learners registered on Academic Bank of Credits, nearing full real-time credit integration.
  

Important Concepts Explained Simply

• Open and Distance Learning (ODL): A flexible learning system that allows learners to study from anywhere and at their own pace.
• Gross Enrolment Ratio: The proportion of the eligible population enrolled in higher education.
• Four-Year Undergraduate Programme: A NEP-aligned programme integrating research, skill-based learning and flexible exits.
• Vocational Qualifications: Job-focused skill certifications approved by NCVET for industry alignment.
• Academic Bank of Credits (ABC): A digital reservoir established under NEP 2020 to digitally store credits earned by a student from various Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), facilitating mobility and flexible entry/exit options.
• Multiple Entry–Exit: Students can pause or resume education with recognised certification at each stage.
• SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds): An Indian government platform offering Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) developed by top national faculty, promoting digital learning.
• NCVET (National Council for Vocational Education and Training): The regulatory body responsible for regulating the functioning of entities engaged in vocational education and training in India, ensuring quality and alignment with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
  

Conclusion

As India prepares to educate and skill 86 million learners by 2035, Open Universities will not only complement but lead the transformation. They embody the NEP 2020 vision by creating inclusive, technology-driven, employability-focused ecosystems that reach learners whom traditional systems leave behind.

OUs are no longer an alternative pathway—they are becoming the central pillar of India’s educational and human development strategy.

Exam Hook

Key Takeaway: Open Universities are essential for achieving NEP 2020 goals, increasing GER, strengthening digital and vocational education, and democratising learning in India.
Possible Mains Question: “Examine the evolving role of Open Universities in achieving India’s National Education Policy 2020 objectives, especially in the context of rising enrolment needs and employability gaps.”

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