E-governance in Higher Education Institutions in India: Status and Prospects

Abstract

The demand for higher education has been steadily rising all over the world including developing nations like India. As higher education systems are rapidly expanding, the administration and management of HEIs (Higher Educational Institutions, that is, universities and institutes offering Bachelor, Masters and Doctoral level education) are becoming a complex task. HEIs are now much more diversified in types of institutions, modes of delivery and backgrounds of students. Technology can help HEIs innovate and serve the diversified student body by providing accessible and flexible education experiences. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) also offers unprecedented opportunities for a seamless sharing of knowledge and information between university administrators, teachers, students and all stakeholders. The main objective of this study is to examine and compare the status of the use of ICT between different types of universities within India. It will further look into the challenges faced by these institutions to implement digital technologies. Besides academic literature, the present study draws upon my previous article on the use of ICT in higher education institutions in India. The study indicates that while ICT is widely used for academic purposes, its use is only limited in the management and administration of higher education. Further studies are needed to identify and suggest means to mitigate the challenges faced by the Indian HEIs towards extensive adoption of ICT. This research will involve conducting, analysing and comparing the results of the in-depth interviews with the administrative heads of concerned institutions. Assessment will also be done through a questionnaire on the integration of ICT in achieving the mission and vision of the HEIs in both private and public universities. The expected results are that private institutions have embarked on technology with greater success and benefits. The study will then recommend steps to profitably use available technologies to improve performance, to enhance the quality of their students and to facilitate all stakeholders. The outcome of the research will provide insight into the institutions themselves and the policymakers in the field of education in India on the critical success factors of ICT governance and define a course to develop technology- enabled smart universities.