Factors influencing quality of technical education in India: a study of technical institutions in Karnataka

Abstract

One of the main triggers for growth in Indian economy is the explosion in the IT sector. In order to sustain the current growth rates in the new knowledge economy sectors, the pool of technical talent needs to continue to grow, which is attracting private players into the sector. With the increasing role of private institutions in technical education, quality assurance becomes more and more critical. External audit mechanisms include several accreditation agencies. While the certification by the external accreditation agencies is an official endorsement, the perception of students with respect to the quality of the programmes offered by these technical institutions plays an important role in their success. There are many factors that contribute to these perceptions as well as the delivery of high quality education. This paper attempts to identify the factors that differentiate those institutions which are perceived as of high quality from those which are perceived as those of low quality. This paper is part of a wider study covering the quality aspects of a number of technical institutions in the state of Karnataka in India.