Goa: Indian universities must balance institutional expansion with academic quality and financial sustainability, ensuring that growth translates into meaningful student outcomes rather than simply higher enrolment numbers, education leaders said at the ETEducation Chancellors’ Conclave 2026.
Speaking during Mega Panel 4, “The Chancellor’s Dilemma: Growth, Quality, or Sustainability?”, moderated by Sheeba Chauhan, Assistant Manager – Content & Community, The Economic Times Business Verticals, seven academic and industry leaders examined the financial, operational and academic trade-offs shaping university leadership decisions.
The discussion highlighted that growth, quality and sustainability should not be treated as competing priorities but as interconnected elements of long-term institutional success.
Student outcomes must guide expansion decisions
Dr Devanshu Patel, President, Parul University, argued that financial sustainability should enable universities to reinvest in faculty, laboratories, infrastructure and academic excellence rather than focus solely on generating profits.
He stressed that student outcomes must remain non-negotiable, even when institutions face pressure to expand.
Drawing on Parul University’s experience, Patel highlighted how differences in state-level fee regulations influence institutional revenue and investment capacity. He maintained that universities should not introduce new programmes without adequate faculty, infrastructure, industry demand and long-term viability.
Prakashbhai Patel, President, Sankalchand Patel University, similarly emphasised that institutional growth must be supported by academic credibility, experienced faculty and ethical practices.
He highlighted the challenges universities in smaller towns face in attracting and retaining faculty, noting that location can significantly influence institutional expansion strategies.
Sustainable investment requires relevance and accountability
Dr Rupa Vasudevan, Chancellor, BEST Innovation University, maintained that academic quality is essential to building stakeholder trust, which ultimately determines institutional sustainability.She advocated evaluating investments through three considerations: relevance to future learning needs, measurable progress and accountability for resources deployed.
For innovation-focused institutions, she argued, success should extend beyond rankings and placements to include entrepreneurship, practical capabilities and preparing students for emerging industries.
Dr Picheswar Gadde, Chancellor, Lingaya’s Vidyapeeth, emphasised the importance of aligning institutional investments with changing industry requirements.
He highlighted holistic development alongside academic learning, arguing that communication, confidence and practical capabilities are essential for improving graduate employability.
Technology and industry partnerships can strengthen institutional resilience
Nijo Ninan, Head of Sales & Operations, UniRP, identified fragmented institutional data as a barrier to effective decision-making.
He advocated integrated university data systems that enable leaders to monitor faculty retention, academic performance and operational gaps, supporting more informed investment and growth strategies.
Anant Bengani, Co-Founder, Zell Education, emphasised the importance of connecting universities with industry partners to develop relevant curricula, professional qualifications and career pathways.
He noted that institutional outcomes also depend on students’ individual choices and capabilities, making curriculum relevance and alumni success important measures of long-term value.
Prof Deepak Kumar Srivastava, President – Higher Education and Policy, Emversity, highlighted the need to balance universities’ academic and social responsibilities.
He called for stronger industry participation in apprenticeship-embedded degree programmes, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, hospitality and emerging technologies.
Srivastava argued that industry support must extend beyond corporate social responsibility initiatives to include sustained participation in student training and practical skill development.
Institutional strength must take precedence over size
Across the discussion, panelists acknowledged that universities face different financial and regulatory circumstances, making a uniform approach to expansion impractical.
While technology, new programmes and infrastructure can support growth, investment decisions must reflect institutional priorities, student expectations and long-term academic relevance.
The central takeaway was that sustainable university growth cannot be measured by enrolments or revenue alone. Institutions must build financial resilience while consistently improving teaching quality, industry relevance and student outcomes to remain competitive over the long term.
