The Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) is a flagship initiative by the Government of India aimed at transforming the landscape of higher education in the country. Launched in 2013, RUSA seeks to improve the overall quality of state institutions by ensuring conformity to prescribed norms and standards. This scheme is a significant step towards achieving equity, access, and excellence in higher education, thereby empowering India’s youth with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the 21st century.

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Objectives of RUSA

The primary objective of RUSA is to enhance the quality of education in state universities and colleges by providing adequate funding and promoting systemic reforms. Some of the key objectives include:

1. Improving Infrastructure: RUSA aims to upgrade the infrastructure of higher education institutions, ensuring that students have access to modern facilities that support their academic and extracurricular activities.
2. Faculty Development: The scheme emphasizes the importance of quality teaching by focusing on faculty recruitment, development, and retention. It seeks to create a conducive environment for teachers to engage in research and innovation.
3. Equity and Inclusion: RUSA promotes inclusivity in higher education by ensuring that marginalized and underrepresented communities have better access to quality education. Special attention is given to institutions in remote and underserved areas.
4. Enhancing Research and Innovation: By providing funds for research projects and establishing innovation hubs, RUSA encourages a culture of research and development in state institutions.
5. Autonomy and Accountability: The scheme advocates for greater autonomy to institutions, enabling them to make decisions that best suit their local context while holding them accountable for outcomes.

Major impact and Targets

RUSA 3.0

New phase of RUSA targets to reach out the unserved, underserved areas; remote/ rural areas; difficult geographies; LWE areas; NER; aspirational districts, tier-2 cities,  areas with low GER etc., and to benefit the most disadvantaged areas and SEDGs.

RUSA 2.0 targets

• Increase the spending of States on higher education as a % of GSDP to 2% or above.
• Ensure all the State Institutions are NAAC Accredited by the end of March 2020 as a part of mandatory quality assurance framework.
• Reduce the student-teacher ratio to 15:1 in Institutions by the end of March 2020. Increasing the National GER to 32% by March 2022
• Ensure growth of GER with more inclusion of disadvantaged groups (SC/ST/Women); Ensure that all the States participate in AISHE and data pertaining to all State institutions is furnished.
• Ensure that the number of colleges affiliated to State Universities reduce to 200.

RUSA 1.0

• To achieve the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) target of of 25.2% by the end of 12th Plan and 32% by the end of 13th Plan

Components

RUSA would create new universities through upgradation of existing autonomous colleges and conversion of colleges in a cluster. It would create new model degree colleges, new professional colleges and provide infrastructural support to universities and colleges. Faculty recruitment support, faculty improvements programmes and leadership development of educational administrators are also an important part of the scheme. In order to enhance skill development the existing central scheme of Polytechnics has been subsumed within RUSA. A separate component to synergise vocational education with higher education has also been included in RUSA. Besides these, RUSA also supports reforming, restructuring and building capacity of institutions in participating state.

The following are the primary components of RUSA that capture the key action and funding areas that must be pursued for the fulfilment of the targets:

• Creation of Universities by conversion of colleges in a cluster
• Creation of Universities by way of upgradation of existing autonomous colleges
• Enhancing Quality and Excellence in Autonomous colleges
• Equity initiatives
• Faculty improvements
• Faculty Recruitment Support
• Infrastructure grants to Colleges
• Infrastructure grants to Universities
• Institutional Restructuring, Capacity Building and Reforms
• New Colleges (Professional)
• New Model Colleges (General)
• Enhancing  Quality and Excellence in select State Universities
• Research, innovation and quality improvement
• Upgradation of existing degree colleges to model colleges
• Vocationalisation of Higher Education (State as a Unit)

Financial outlay

RUSA 3.0

The Government has approved the scheme of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) for continuation till 31.03.2026 or till further review, whichever is earlier. The proposal entails an expenditure of Rs. 12929.16 crore out of which Central Share is Rs. 8120.97 crores and the State Share is of Rs. 4808.19 crores. It has been envisaged to support around 1600 projects under the new phase of the scheme.

RUSA 2.0

A financial outlay of Rs 7100 crores has been earmarked for 3 years beginning 2017-18 to 2019-20. The project cost in the public funded institutions for all sub-components is shared between the Central Government and State Governments in the ratio of 90:10 for North-Eastern States, J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, 60:40 for other States and UTs with Legislature and 100:0 for UTs without Legislature.

The funding would flow from the central ministry through the state governments/union territories to the State Higher Education Councils before reaching the identified institutions. The funding to states would be made on the basis of critical appraisal of State Higher Education Plans, which would describe each state’s strategy to address issues of equity, access and excellence in higher education

Key Features of RUSA

• Strategic Funding: RUSA provides funding to state institutions based on performance and outcomes. The funds are allocated for infrastructure development, capacity building, and quality enhancement.
• Institutional Restructuring: The scheme encourages state governments to undertake reforms in the governance and management of higher education institutions, promoting transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
• Focus on Underrepresented Areas: RUSA specifically targets institutions in backward regions, aiming to reduce regional imbalances in access to higher education.
• Promotion of Vocational Education: Recognizing the importance of skill development, RUSA integrates vocational education into the mainstream curriculum, preparing students for the job market.

Impact of RUSA

Since its inception, RUSA has had a significant impact on higher education in India. The scheme has led to the upgradation of infrastructure in several state universities and colleges, making them more conducive to learning and innovation. Faculty development programs have improved the quality of teaching, while the focus on research has resulted in the production of valuable knowledge and technology.

Moreover, RUSA has played a crucial role in making higher education more inclusive, with increased enrollment from marginalized communities and remote areas. The emphasis on vocational education has also ensured that students are better equipped with skills that are in demand in the job market, thereby improving their employability.

Challenges and the Way Forward

While RUSA has achieved considerable success, it faces several challenges. The effective implementation of the scheme requires active participation from state governments and institutions, which can be a complex process. Additionally, ensuring the sustainability of reforms and the continuous improvement of quality remains a critical challenge.

Moving forward, there is a need for greater collaboration between the central and state governments to address these challenges. Continuous monitoring and evaluation of the scheme’s impact will be crucial in making necessary adjustments to achieve the desired outcomes.

Conclusion

Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) is a visionary scheme that has the potential to revolutionize higher education in India. By focusing on quality, inclusivity, and innovation, RUSA is paving the way for a more educated and skilled workforce, capable of driving India’s growth in the global economy. With sustained efforts and strategic implementation, RUSA will continue to play a vital role in shaping the future of higher education in India.