Administrative Challenges in Higher Education: A Review with Special Reference to Emerging Educational Hubs in India

Higher education administration has emerged as a critical determinant of institutional effectiveness, academic quality, and policy implementation worldwide. Rapid expansion, globalisation, marketisation, and increased accountability have significantly reshaped the administrative structures of higher education institutions (HEIs). In India, these challenges are further intensified by regulatory complexity, financial constraints, and uneven institutional capacity. This review paper synthesises global and national literature on higher education administration with particular emphasis on emerging educational hubs such as Jaipur. Drawing on prior empirical and conceptual studies, the paper examines governance models, financial management, human resource practices, technological integration, quality assurance mechanisms, and the administrative implications of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The review identifies persistent gaps between policy intent and operational realities, highlighting the need for cooperative governance models, administrative capacity building, and context-sensitive reforms. The paper contributes to higher education research by consolidating fragmented scholarship and outlining directions for future research and policy interventions in emerging educational ecosystems.