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Across convocation stages in Rajasthan, a visible shift is unfolding: female students are increasingly outnumbering male students among gold medallists, toppers, and academic award winners. Behind these ceremonial moments lies a deeper transformation in the state’s higher education ecosystem driven by policy reforms, institutional expansion, and changing social attitudes toward women’s education.

According to the Annual Progress Report 2025–26 released by the state higher education department, female participation in higher education rose by 77 per cent between 2008 and 2026. The number of girls enrolled in colleges and universities increased from 1.63 lakh in 2008 to 7.02 lakh in 2026.

The gender balance in higher education has also shifted significantly. While there were 97 female students for every 100 male students during the 2015–16 academic session, the figure climbed to 127 female students per 100 male students in 2025–26.

Changing family attitudes driving enrolment growth

Sociologists attribute the rise not only to government schemes but also to changing household priorities.

Rashmi Jain said that while girls earlier enrolled in schools in reasonable numbers, dropout rates historically increased after puberty or completion of schooling.

She noted that scholarship schemes and educational incentives helped girls continue their studies, but a larger social shift occurred when families began recognising higher education as equally important for daughters and sons.

According to education experts, aspirations around women’s financial independence and professional identity have become more socially accepted in Rajasthan over the past decade.

Expansion of women’s colleges and policy support

The state also expanded educational infrastructure specifically for women. The number of women’s colleges in Rajasthan increased from 466 in 2015–16 to 801 in 2025–26, including B.Ed institutions.

Currently, two deemed-to-be universities and two private universities dedicated exclusively to women are operational in the state.

Several policy interventions targeted long-standing barriers such as affordability, distance, safety, and subject availability.

In 2016, the state government introduced a 3 per cent bonus marks provision for girls applying to co-educational colleges if their preferred subjects were unavailable in nearby government women’s colleges. The measure coincided with a 26.23 per cent rise in enrolment during the 2016–17 academic year.

In 2019, Rajasthan waived tuition fees for female students in universities and colleges, directly addressing financial constraints.

Later, in 2024, the government introduced horizontal reservation for women by earmarking 30 per cent of seats in government co-educational colleges for female students beginning with the 2024–25 academic session.

From the 2026–27 session onward, female students holding Black Belt qualifications will also receive 5 per cent bonus marks during admissions to government colleges, linking extracurricular achievement with admission incentives.

Safety and mobility emerge as key participation factors

Mobility and safety — often decisive factors in conservative social settings — became central to education policy planning.

From the 2023–24 academic session, the state extended its Transport Voucher Scheme to female students living more than 10 kilometres away from their colleges. Eligible students receive Rs 20 per day of attendance as transport support.

Puneet Sharma said that safer campuses, hostel facilities, and improved infrastructure significantly increased parental confidence in sending daughters for higher studies outside their hometowns.

He also observed that girls are increasingly entering fields once considered male-dominated, including engineering, finance, and law.

New institutions widen opportunities

Rajasthan’s higher education expansion also coincided with the establishment of nationally important institutions within the state.

Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur was established in 2008, while Central University of Rajasthan was set up in 2009. All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur followed in 2012, strengthening medical education access.

Experts say the residential nature of these campuses addressed security concerns that traditionally discouraged families from sending daughters far from home.

Progress remains uneven across disciplines

Despite rising enrolment, academic distribution remains uneven. Humanities continue to dominate female enrolment at 41.8 per cent, while science accounts for 10.67 per cent of total female participation in higher education.

The trend suggests that although access has improved, diversification across disciplines still faces challenges related to school-level preparation, laboratory access, counselling, and availability of specialised faculty.

Private universities are also witnessing rising female participation. Niti Nipun Sharma said girls now constitute around 37 per cent of students at Manipal University Jaipur, compared to 26 per cent a decade ago.

He added that growth has occurred not only in humanities but also across engineering, law, and professional programmes, with campus safety and holistic development playing major roles.

The next challenge: from access to diversification

Rajasthan’s higher education transformation demonstrates how policy interventions — from fee waivers and reservation policies to transport support and institutional expansion — can reshape educational participation over time.

However, education experts believe the next phase will depend on whether rising enrolment can translate into broader academic diversification, stronger career outcomes, and equal participation across regions and disciplines.

The convocation stage may symbolise the shift, but the larger challenge remains ensuring that opportunities expand consistently across every district, subject stream, and social background without older barriers resurfacing in new forms.

The growing scope of graphic design took center stage at the EdInBox Regional Higher Education Summit 2026 in Lucknow. Bachelor of Visual Arts graduate Anshu Yadav highlighted the field’s rapid rise, calling it one of the most promising career paths for creative students today.

Speaking at the summit, Yadav explained how the boundaries of art have expanded with the digital shift. “Earlier, art meant dancing, singing, and painting,” she said. “But in today’s digital and marketing-driven era, graphic design has gained huge importance.” 

She pointed to poster making, banner design, digital creatives, and branding as areas where graphic designers now play a critical role. According to Yadav, every product and service today builds its identity through visual presentation, making designers essential to business and communication strategies.

Yadav described graphic design as a career that blends creativity with strong employment prospects. Unlike traditional art forms that often struggled with limited commercial avenues, design now sits at the intersection of technology, marketing, and storytelling. The demand spans industries — from startups and advertising to education and e-commerce.

Her advice to students was direct: if you have a creative bent, take graphic design seriously and keep updating yourself with new tools and trends. She stressed that software skills, AI tools, and an understanding of brand psychology are becoming as important as artistic talent.

Students at the summit responded with keen interest. Many saw the session as an eye-opener to a field they had considered secondary to mainstream careers. Several attendees noted that Yadav’s insights reframed design from “just drawing on a computer” to a strategic, future-ready profession.

The discussion reflected a larger theme at the summit — that education must align with evolving industry needs. For Anshu Yadav, graphic design is proof that art is no longer confined to galleries. It’s now on every screen, package, and campaign, shaping how the world sees and buys.

At a time when learning India’s classical dance forms often comes with a hefty price tag, a modest institution in Kerala is quietly dismantling that barrier. Nestled in Peringottukara in Thrissur, the Sarvathobhadram Kalakendram has, for the past eight years, been offering free training in performing arts to hundreds of students—many of whom would otherwise never have access to such opportunities.

Established under the aegis of the centuries-old Avanangattil Kalari, the kalakendram is rooted in a simple but powerful philosophy: give more to society than you take from it. “We have always believed in serving society, and the kalakendram was created with that vision,” says A U Raghuraman Panicker, who manages the kalari.

What began as a community-driven initiative has today grown into a thriving cultural hub, training nearly 800 students across disciplines. From Kathakali and Bharatanatyam to Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi, traditional percussion like Chenda, and even martial arts training in kalari, the institution offers a diverse curriculum—all without charging a fee.

At the helm of its artistic vision is renowned Kathakali exponent Kalanilayam Gopi, who serves as the principal. “We have daily classes from 6am to 6pm, and students are free to choose the art form they wish to pursue,” he explains. The teachers’ remuneration is fully supported by the Avanangattil Kalari, ensuring that financial constraints never become a barrier for aspiring performers.

Beyond instruction, the kalakendram also provides accommodation for male Kathakali students in need, reinforcing its commitment to accessibility. Its performing troupe regularly travels across Kerala, offering students exposure to real-world stages and audiences—an opportunity that often remains out of reach for many learners.

In a cultural landscape where participation in school festivals and competitions like kalolsavams can involve significant expenses—from costumes to training fees—the kalakendram stands out as an equaliser. “There are no barriers here. Students from all communities and religions are welcome,” Panicker emphasises, highlighting the institution’s inclusive ethos.

The journey into the arts begins each year ceremonially during Vidyarambham, when new students are inducted. In keeping with tradition, each child offers a symbolic one-coin dakshina, underscoring the spirit of humility and reverence rather than transaction.

Yet, the kalakendram’s vision extends beyond the arts. Backed by the legacy of the Avanangattil Kalari, it also runs a clinic, promotes organic farming, and engages in charitable initiatives—fostering holistic community development alongside cultural education.

In an age where access to classical arts is increasingly shaped by affordability, the Sarvathobhadram Kalakendram is proving that talent, when nurtured without barriers, can flourish anywhere.

In a clear push toward becoming a comprehensive workplace platform, Canva has announced two new acquisitions just days before its annual Create keynote. The company confirmed it is bringing on board Simtheory and Ortto—both Australian tech firms—to strengthen its capabilities in enterprise workflows and artificial intelligence.

The move signals Canva’s growing ambition to evolve beyond a design-focused tool into a full-scale “work suite” powered by AI. Cliff Obrecht, co-founder and COO of Canva, emphasized this shift, noting that the acquisitions mark a step toward making Canva “the system where work happens end-to-end,” whether users are brainstorming ideas or executing full-scale campaigns.

Although financial details of the deals have not been disclosed, the integration of Simtheory and Ortto’s technologies is expected to roll out to Canva’s massive base of 265 million monthly active users in the coming weeks. These additions are also likely to be highlighted during the upcoming Create keynote, where Canva traditionally unveils major product updates.

The acquisitions build on a series of earlier moves this year, including the addition of MangoAI and Cavalry. Together, these deals reinforce Canva’s expanding AI stack as it competes more directly with industry giants like Adobe and its Creative Cloud suite, as well as emerging creative ecosystems such as Apple’s creator-focused tools.

Simtheory’s integration is particularly significant for Canva’s future roadmap. Its technology enables the creation of “agentic” AI systems—tools capable of executing complex, multi-step workflows using company data and knowledge bases. This means teams could soon deploy AI agents within Canva to automate processes, coordinate tasks, and even switch between different AI models without being locked into one system.

Meanwhile, Ortto brings strengths in data and marketing automation, which will enhance Canva’s ability to manage the entire content lifecycle. From planning and creation to publishing and performance analysis, these capabilities are expected to power Canva’s “Grow” suite, offering businesses a more unified marketing workflow.

Both companies were founded by Chris and Mike Sharkey, who will now join Canva in leadership roles, further strengthening its AI and marketing technology divisions.

These acquisitions reflect Canva’s broader vision of building an integrated ecosystem that connects every stage of work—from initial brief to final output and analysis—supported by AI at every step. As Obrecht noted, the company is only beginning to tap into this potential, hinting that more innovations are on the horizon.

With its continued investments and strategic acquisitions, Canva is positioning itself not just as a design tool but as a central hub for productivity, creativity, and intelligent automation in the modern workplace.

India is not only cementing its status as a global technology and innovation center, but its creative economy is also undergoing a major change. Design education is becoming a main lever for such change, with institutions like Design India Collective reinventing the ways students are trained for design careers with mentorship-driven, industry-oriented learning.

A bigger vision: India as a world design capital

The Indian design heritage - from timeless architecture and crafts to recent digital innovations - gives the country a great base from which to grow. As the need for skills like user experience, design thinking and creative problem solving grows, the emphasis is moving from purely theoretical knowledge to practical, hands-on learning.

Design India Collective is carving out a niche for itself in the changing scenario and has set its sights on being a part of the grander dream of making India a global design capital. The school, by mixing the age-old artistry with new techniques, is developing itself in line with the requirements of an ever-growing design industry.

What sets the institute apart is its emphasis on experiential learning. Students are exposed to real-world design practices through industry expert sessions, workshops, exhibitions, and hands-on studio projects.

From product design to visual communication, the curriculum spans multiple disciplines, helping students build portfolios that reflect both creativity and practical application—key factors in competitive admissions.

‘85 Portfolio Possibilities’: A structured edge

A standout feature of the institute is its “85 Portfolio Possibilities Framework,” designed to help students explore diverse design domains while building strong, differentiated portfolios. This approach allows students to identify their creative strengths and stand out in highly competitive selection processes.

Results and expansion plans

Students have gained admission to top design colleges in india and abroad, frequently with scholarships. The focus stays on long-term career readiness, not quick exam results.

Genius Nestlings began in 2009 and changed its name to design India Collective in 2023. The new model centers on design education. Next steps include growing into Tier 2 and tier 3 cities, launching an online platform, and working with industry and universities across the country.

Designing for impact

As India's innovation system expands, design is no longer just a career path - it's a tool for real-world solutions. Design India Collective supports ethical, human-centered design thinking.

When creativity and problem-solving matter more than rote learning, these efforts show how education is shifting. Students aren't just entering industries, they're building them from within.

The School of design at MIT Institute of design has launched D'KODE 2026 with a two-day Typography Summit, March 28 - 29 - bringing together leading voices from India and abroad to explore the evolving role of typography in design, communication, and digital interfaces.

Leading the discussions are Gerri Canonico, a US-based typographer, Sarang Kulkarni who is from India and noopur Datye, a digital font specialist. The main topics of conversation are variable fonts, AI- type design and inclusive typography - reshaping visual messaging with the help of technology.

Besides that, workshops on glyphs and FontForge enable the participants to create fonts. Moreover, the course covers branding and UI/UX scenarios from the real world. As a matter of fact, design sprints are the live sessions where people get the chance to use the new typefaces in practice. On the other hand, the exhibitions display experimental works along with other side features.

By the way, typography has been impacted heavily by the national Education Policy 2020. Design colleges are giving great importance to interdisciplinary training and technological skills. What used to be a somewhat insignificant skill is now a major factor in global digital markets.

Along with D'KODE 2026, we see how AI and cross-cultural interaction are making new skills necessary. Typography is the medium through which we read, feel and tell stories. Apart from appearance, it is about providing access, giving a great experience, and communicating effectively, which are the needs of today's creative world.