The Ministry of Education, Government of India, launched the All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) in the year 2011 under the scheme of Higher Education Statistics and Public Information System (HESPIS). It is to understand the state of higher education in India and create a robust database of the educational institutions providing higher education in India. The survey is web-based and conducted on an annual basis through the portal http://aishe.gov.in.
The survey was conceptualized by a task force comprising of individuals from the Ministry of Education, University Grants Commission, All India Council for Technical Education, Medical Council of India, Indian Institute of Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, Central Statistics Office, Distance Education Council, National University of Education Planning & Administration, Universities, and various State Higher Education Departments.
Higher Education Institutions for this survey is divided into three broad categories, namely: 1. University Level Institutions refer to the institutions that have the power to award degrees to students under the Act of Parliament or State Legislature.
2. Colleges/Institutions that are not empowered to provide degrees in their name are affiliated/recognized with Universities.
3. Stand-alone Institutions (not affiliated with Universities) are not empowered to provide degrees and therefore run diploma-level programs.
The objective of the survey:
The survey is conducted with the following objectives: 1. to identify all institutions providing higher education; and 2. to collect data concerning various educational statistics.
Collection of Data:
Under the survey, data from institutions imparting higher education is collected in a prescribed format basis the following parameters:
1. Educational Institution’s basic details; 2. Availability of infrastructure; 3. Details of students’ enrolments; 4. Details of education finance; 5. Teachers’ details; 6. Details of non-teaching staff; 7. Financial information such as receipt and expenditure under various heads; 8. Programme conducted under various faculties/schools & departments/centres; 9. Students enrolled in these programs; 10.The examination result of a terminal year of each of these programs; and 11. Scholarships, loans & accreditation.
Based on the data collected, various indicators of educational development such as institution density, gross enrolment ratio, pupil-teacher ratio, gender parity index, etc., are calculated. These indicators form an important basis for making informed policy decisions and research for developing the education sector in India.
Duration of the Survey:
The survey commences every year on 1st January, and the data collection process continues up to 15th August every year. Thereafter, the information is reviewed, and reports are prepared.
AISHE Reports:
Once the data is collected, reports are prepared by the National Information Commission (NIC) and published on the portal http://aishe.gov.in. These AISHE reports give a detailed analysis of the data collected in the concerned year and lay out the important estimates on higher educational indicators such as enrolment, gender parity, pupil-teacher ratio, infrastructure, etc., which helps in providing a detailed picture of the higher education scenario in India. The survey plays a very important role in policy formulation as it helps State/ Central Governments to assess the present position of education in the country vis-à-vis other countries.