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International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management

A Peer-Reviewed, Open-Access International Journal Supporting Multidisciplinary Research, Digital Publishing Standards, DOI Registration, and Academic Indexing.
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ISSN: 3108-1754 (Online)
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ISO Certification: 9001:2015
Publication Fee: 599/- INR
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License: CC BY 4.0
Peer Review: Double Blind
Volume 02, Issue 7

Published on: July 2026

ENHANCING THE GROSS ENROLMENT RATIO (GER) OF STUDENTS IN CONVENTIONAL STATE UNIVERSITIES IN INDIA: CHALLENGES IN ATTRACTING STUDENTS AND A PRACTICAL ACTION PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE RETENTION OF TRADITIONAL COURSES IN SEMI-URBAN KARNATAKA

Dr. Pradeep B S Dr. Kalpana B S

Social work Department, Davangere University, Davanagere
DOI:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i7.232

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Plagiarism Passed Peer Reviewed Open Access

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Abstract

India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 sets an ambitious target to raise the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education from under 30% to 50% by 2035. While metro-centric private and specialized universities continue to attract high candidate volumes, conventional state public universities located in semi-urban regions face severe enrolment stagnation, particularly in traditional basic science (B.Sc.), arts (B.A.), and humanities programs. Taking the semi-urban university landscape of Karnataka as a focal case study—where the overall state GER stands at 36.2% alongside deep regional disparities between urban hubs and semi-urban or interior districts—this study examines the structural, socio-economic, and pedagogical barriers discouraging prospective students from enrolling in traditional degree programs.

Through a mixed-methods empirical approach involving multi-stakeholder surveys () across four semi-urban public universities in Karnataka, the paper identifies four primary friction points: perceived employabilities deficit, rigid traditional curricula, infrastructural deficits, and aggressive competition from private technical institutions. To address these challenges without abandoning core disciplines, this paper presents a practical, scalable action plan. Key interventions include:

How to Cite this Paper

S, P. B. & S, K. B. (2026). Enhancing the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of Students in Conventional State Universities in India: Challenges in Attracting Students and a Practical Action Plan for Sustainable Retention of Traditional Courses in Semi-Urban Karnataka. International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management, <i>02</i>(7), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i7.232

S, Pradeep, and Kalpana S. "Enhancing the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of Students in Conventional State Universities in India: Challenges in Attracting Students and a Practical Action Plan for Sustainable Retention of Traditional Courses in Semi-Urban Karnataka." International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management, vol. 02, no. 7, 2026, pp. 1-9. doi:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i7.232.

S, Pradeep, and Kalpana S. "Enhancing the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of Students in Conventional State Universities in India: Challenges in Attracting Students and a Practical Action Plan for Sustainable Retention of Traditional Courses in Semi-Urban Karnataka." International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management 02, no. 7 (2026): 1-9. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i7.232.

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References


  1. All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE). (2024). Annual Survey Report 2021-22. Ministry of Education, Government of India.

  2. Government of Karnataka. (2025). Economic Survey of Karnataka 2024–25. Planning, Programme Monitoring and Statistics Department, Bengaluru.

  3. Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). (2020). National Education Policy 2020. Government of India.

  4. University Grants Commission (UGC). (2022). Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes (CCFUP). New Delhi.

  5. Rani, P. G. (2021). Rural-urban disparities in higher education access and equity in India. Journal of Educational Planning and Administration, 35(2), 115–134.

  6. Varghese, N. V., & Panigrahi, J. (2019). India Higher Education Report 2018: Financing Higher Education. Sage Publications.


 

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  • •All submissions are screened under plagiarism detection.
  • •Review follows editorial policy.
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  • •Peer Review Type: Double-Blind Peer Review
  • •Published on: Jul 27 2026
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