New Delhi, July 31 -- The central challenge facing Indian higher education today is this: Can a country as diverse as India create excellence by combining national standards with institutional freedom?

The Challenge: Scale and Governance

India has one of the world's largest higher education systems, both in terms of the number of institutions and student enrolment. Over the past few decades, the country has witnessed significant expansion of universities, colleges and specialised institutions. While this expansion has improved access to higher education, concerns continue to remain regarding quality, research output, employability, faculty development and institutional autonomy.

The challenge is compounded by India's extraordinary dive...