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@article{195632,
        author = {J Madegowda},
        title = {Expansion and Massification of Commerce Education: Historical Trajectories and Contemporary Patterns},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {11},
        pages = {621-638},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=195632},
        abstract = {The expansion of higher education across the globe has been accompanied by the massification of academic programs, indicating broader socio-economic transformations and an increase in the demand for market-oriented education. Commerce education, originally introduced to satisfy the requirements of trade, accounting, and business administration, has gradually evolved from a relatively limited academic offering into one of the largest streams in contemporary higher education. This study explores the historical evolution and contemporary patterns of the expansion and massification of commerce education. In the process, the study traces its trajectory from early institutional foundations to its present large-scale presence across universities and their affiliated colleges. Using insights from the literature on higher education expansion and disciplinary development, the study examines the major drivers underlying this growth, such as increasing student aspirations for employability-oriented programs, economic transformation, service-sector expansion, professionalisation of business-related occupations, and policy initiatives promoting higher education expansion. The analysis underscores how these forces have contributed to the rapid proliferation of commerce programs, diversification of curricula in areas such as accounting, finance, international business, and business analytics, and sustained growth in student enrolment. While this massification has substantially widened access to commerce education, it has also generated concerns relating to faculty capacity, quality assurance, and curriculum relevance within large-scale programs. Therefore, understanding these trajectories is necessary for policymakers and educators to strike a right balance between expansion and quality while positioning commerce education to respond to emerging global, technological, and economical trends and developments in the future.},
        keywords = {Commerce/Business Education; Curriculum Diversification; Employability; Higher Education Expansion; Massification of Higher Education},
        month = {April},
        }