HEARTS - Higher Education for All to Realize Transformation of the Society

Higher education plays a significant role in the human resource development of a country by means of creating skilled manpower, enhancing industrial productivity and improving quality of life. Higher education refers to the education in colleges and universities. India has a large higher education system. At the same time, the millions of students have always faced a major challenge for entering higher education because of given their socio, economic circumstances have had the greatest impact. Due to socio-economic disparities in society, a large section of people has been forced to divert from their education and enter work to earn for their living costs. It leads to increasing the number of dropouts, particularly after their school education. The transition from higher secondary school to higher education is more significant to nurture young minds in the age of 18-23, who can have better participation in the development of the nation. The world average of higher education so-called the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) is 31.50% which India’s average is around 27.10%. The integrated Vellore district is one of the northern districts in Tamil Nadu. Its major workforces are bringing in the group of manual labour, industry workers and agricultural labourers. It replicates results particularly in the aspects of backwardness in the district among school and college education.

The Universal Higher Education Trust (UHET) established in 2012 and working with Vellore, Tirupathur, Ranipet Districts in Tamil Nadu has aims to cater to the needs of underprivileged students who complete 10+2 (HSC) and wish to pursue their higher education. UHET is working towards making higher education possible for all the young, deserving individuals, irrespective of their socio-economic background and to facilitate them economically to be productive and socially responsible citizens. UHET is planning to organize a career guidance programme especially on the awareness and importance of higher education in the rural Government Higher Secondary Schools of Vellore, Tirupathur, Ranipet Districts and Jawadhu Hills union. As part of its extensive objective UHET has given importance to promoting girls education. In the period of 2012-2020 UHET has supported INR. 7.3 crore to 6,824 student beneficiaries among them 66% of the student are girls, 67.9% are first-generation graduates and 16% are orphan/semi orphans. As evidence of the successful result of the experience, UHET has set a goal to specifically support 100 orphan/semi orphan students in the academic year 2022-2023 alone to support their higher education financially.

UHET’s efforts will make these 100 students access the opportunity and make them continue their higher education and reduce dropout due to this pandemic. It will definitely break the financial barriers of the economically weaker section which has been a threat to their higher education dream. Especially during this COVID pandemic scenario, a number of students have been lost their parents and being suffered from unable to continue their college education. By this effort for support orphans and semi-orphans would get benefited to pursue their dream without any difficulties. Through supporting 100 orphan and semi orphan students it would be again revamping their efforts towards their dream. These students could get graduation and get placed into decent jobs. In the upcoming years, they could be a breadwinner of their family. As well it ensured their development in their career. Overall they will act as a potential resource in nation-building.