Indian campuses of foreign universities are a win-win for students and institute

Source– The post is based on the article “Indian campuses of foreign universities are a win-win for students and institute” published in The Indian Express on 11th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Issues related to development and management of education

Relevance– Higher educational institutions

News– The article explains the recent draft UGC regulations on allowing foreign educational institutions to set up their campuses in India.

Why draft UGC regulations on allowing foreign educational institutions in India is a win-win situation?

These regulations have an in-built mechanism to ensure the entry of only the highest-quality institutions. Foreign higher education institutions intending to come to India will be experienced in imparting education. They will have robust financial resources, integrity, long-term commitment, and a better understanding of the venture’s feasibility.

Campuses of foreign HEIs will attract students from the Global South. It will provide an environment for interaction.

It will give more viable options to Indian students who opt for overseas education. Many students are not able to go for overseas education due to family or financial situations. Foreign HEIs will provide opportunities for students who do not wish to immigrate to stay in India and study at a foreign university.

The National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration recently conducted a study to gather reliable information on foreign universities’ priorities regarding establishing their campuses in India. Several universities ranking in the top 200 have expressed their interest in considering India as a destination.

Foreign HEIs will foster healthy competition among Indian institutions to better their standards and establish world-class institutions.

Institutions of Eminence have made considerable progress in multidisciplinary teaching and research, leveraging technology for effective teaching-learning, and promoting the internationalisation of higher education. They and other institutes in India can be potential partners in research collaborations with FHEIs in cutting-edge areas.

How other government initiatives can be helpful for foreign HEIs?

The establishment of foreign campuses will be facilitated through the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 and its rules. Foreign HEIs can establish campuses under Companies Act, 2013; Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008; and as a joint venture with an existing Indian entity.

The biggest incentive for FHEIs is that there is no need to keep a corpus fund and they can repatriate their funds to the parent university.

The Union budget announced on February 1, 2022, emphasized foreign direct investment (FDI) in education.

Following NEP 2020, the UGC has been proactively working to meet the aspirations of Indian higher education institutes. It is providing them with more autonomy and bringing out progressive regulation. The draft regulations on FHEIs consider the current and desired stages of internationalizing Indian higher education.

How will these reforms transform higher education?

Regulations regarding campuses of FHEIs along with the other recent initiatives like the joint, and dual degrees with foreign universities, and the regulations for enabling the Indian universities to open campuses in other countries should not be read in silos.

The cumulative effects of the enabling provisions must be seen as a catalyst for transforming higher education in India.