Satisfaction of Students towards Quality in Higher EducationA Study of Higher Education Sector Punjab (India)

Education plays a very important role in the growth and prosperity of any nation. Punjab, a well known state of north India, is a leader in providing education. The Punjab education system has witnessed a significant expansion in the recent years, both in terms of number of institutions as well as students enrolment. But, the quality of education still remains poor. The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the higher educational institutions in providing quality education, from the view-point of students in Punjab. The study covers three districts of Punjab i.e. Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana. Primary data has been collected to achieve the objectives of the study. A well structured questionnaire containing 32 items has been used for the purpose of the study. The respondents have been asked to rate the quality of education, using a five point likert scale. Descriptive and Exploratory Factor analysis have been used to analyze the data. Percentages, graphs and diagrams also have been used for analysis of the study. The factor analysis has resulted in eight factors showing the satisfaction of students regarding the quality of education in their institution. As per the results, the availability of infrastructure facilities as an important factor followed by placement services, education environment, extracurricular activities, knowledge up gradation, academic facilities, student support services and academic staff.