Foreign university campuses in India: Is the move practical?
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Loading... - Samarth Singh
- 03 Feb 2023
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As the UGC prepares to attract foreign universities to India, their success will depend on multiple factors that are yet to be resolved
India, with the world's largest population, has 1,113 higher education institutions, with 4.13 crore students, according to the Ministry of Education. Instead of addressing the regulatory and administrative issues within India’s education system, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced its intention to attract foreign institutions to establish campuses in the country.
The goal is to improve access to higher education by inviting world-renowned Foreign Higher Education Institutions (FHEI) to establish satellite campuses in India, targeting those with a top 500 global rating or recognised reputation in their home country. As per the regulation, such campuses can offer only physical classes. “A legislative framework facilitating such entry will be put in place, and universities will be given special dispensation regarding regulatory, governance, and content norms on par with other autonomous institutions of India,” says the UGC document.
Nearly 6.5 lakh Indians joined foreign universities in 2022, as per data shared in Parliament, in search of quality education and entrepreneurial training, resulting in a massive outflow of over Rs 1,300 crore to finance their education. UGC intends to target these students while also attracting international students.
These universities will initially be granted permission to set up campuses for 10 years, after which the renewal will be subjected to the fulfilment of requisite conditions of the UGC. Based on the approval of a ‘Letter of Intent’, the FHEI is expected to begin establishing its Indian campus and building infrastructure within two years. “These colleges would be required to take classes full-time in physical mode only with a reasonable and transparent fee structure. Furthermore, foreign faculty appointed to teach on the Indian campus would be expected to live in India rather than just visit here to teach,” points out Piyush Kumar, regional director, South Asia, and Mauritius, IDP Education, an overseas education consultant platform. Read More…
