On internationalization of higher education -Why India must offer student work visas

Source: The post on internationalization of higher education is based on the article “Why India must offer student work visas” published in “Indian Express” on 26th October 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS2 Governance – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education.

News: The article discusses India’s aim to internationalize its higher education. Many Indian students study abroad due to varied college quality at home. India struggles to attract and retain foreign students, mainly because they can’t work after studying. Changes in visa policies are suggested to address this.

What is the meaning of internationalizing higher education?

According to the International Association of universities, Internationalization of higher education is the process of integrating an international/intercultural dimension into the teaching, research and service elements of an institution.

This ensures that students, faculty, and the community experience a globalized curriculum and environment, preparing them for a more interconnected world.

It also helps one to understand and appreciate diverse cultural and ethnic groups, including those within one’s own country.

NEP 2020’s goal: Internationalization of education is one of the goals of NEP 2020. It aims to achieve it by making the Indian education system self-reliant and compliant to global standards & norms. It would help India in attracting students from abroad, in large numbers.

What is India’s Student (“S”) visa policy?

India’s student visa policy allows foreign students to pursue education in recognized institutions. It is characterized by:

The Student Visa duration is either the course length or 5 years, whichever is shorter.

Working on a student visa is prohibited, but NRIs, OCIs, and PIOs are exempted.

What is the significance of internationalizing higher education in India?

1) Raising Standards through collaboration as provided in the NEP 2020: This includes updating syllabi, offering joint degrees with foreign institutions, and enhancing campus diversity.

2) Meeting Demand: Despite having 54,000 colleges, there’s a gap in quality. This has led to 7.5 lakh Indian students seeking education abroad annually.

3) Economic Opportunities: Attracting foreign students can boost India’s economy.

4) Building Global Networks: Indian companies benefit from hiring foreign talent who understand both India and their home countries.

5) Addressing Workforce Challenges: India’s aging population means a potential workforce decline. Foreign students working post-studies can help fill this gap.

What is the concern associated with permitting foreign students to work?

Job Competition: A primary worry is that foreign students might take jobs that would otherwise go to Indian students.

Bureaucratic Procedures: Currently, foreign students cannot gain work experience post-studies. Changing this requires an amendment to India’s “S” Visa, involving bureaucratic procedures.

Tax Implications: The Ministry of Finance would need to address how India’s tax laws and double taxation treaties would apply to income earned by foreign students.

Regulatory Coordination: Multiple ministries, including Education, Home Affairs, and Finance, must coordinate closely to implement such changes, which can be a complex task.

Long-term Residency Concerns: While the idea is to offer work status to foreign students, it might lead to concerns about whether this could be a pathway to longer-term residency in India.

What should be done in this regard?

Amending of Visa Rules: India should modify the “S” Visa policy to allow foreign students to work post-studies in India.

Enhancing Coordination between Ministries: The Ministry of Home Affairs needs to work alongside the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education for a cohesive approach to visa and tax issues.

Issuing of Guidelines on Recruitment: The Ministry of Education, through bodies like the UGC and AICTE, should issue guidelines for on-campus hiring of foreign students.

Promoting Higher Education Abroad: India’s Prime Minister has highlighted higher education as a key export sector. For instance, IIMs and IITs are opening branches overseas.

Engaging Private Universities: Institutions like Manipal, Sharda, and Amity, which already have foreign campuses, can share insights and best practices.

Involving Indian Companies: They can advocate for student visa changes, benefiting from hiring globally acquainted talent.

Question for practice:

In this era of globalization and the resulting internationalization of education, India should reconsider its stance on student work visas for foreign students. Analyse.