Internationalisation of Education
Context: In a significant move under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s push to internationalisation of education, Australia’s University of New South Wales (UNSW) is set to become the seventh Australian university to establish a campus in Bengaluru.
What is the importance of the opening of foreign universities in India?
The entry of high-ranked foreign universities like UNSW into India holds multi-faceted importance:
- Enhancing Educational Quality & Choice: It introduces global curricula, pedagogical methods, and research standards into the Indian ecosystem, raising the overall benchmark for higher education and offering Indian students world-class options without going abroad.
- Reducing Forex Outflow & Making Education Affordable: It can significantly reduce the annual billions of dollars spent by Indian students on overseas education, making an international degree more affordable by eliminating costs of living abroad.
- Fostering Research & Innovation: As seen with the announced joint research projects in AI, quantum, and space, such collaborations attract investment, create synergies between Indian and global talent, and position India as a global research hub.
- Boosting Employability: Degrees aligned with global industry needs (like data science, cybersecurity at UNSW) enhance the skill profile of Indian graduates, making them competitive in the global job market.
- Strategic Diplomacy & Soft Power: Deep educational integration strengthens bilateral relationships (like the Australia-India strategic partnership) and builds long-term people-to-people connections, fostering mutual understanding and goodwill.
How can it prevent “brain drain” in India?
The establishment of foreign university campuses can act as a powerful tool to mitigate brain drain by:
- Creating “Brain Gain” Opportunities: It attracts top international faculty and researchers to work in India, reversing the flow of intellectual capital.
- Providing Domestic Alternatives: High-achieving Indian students who otherwise would have emigrated for quality education can now access globally-recognised degrees within the country, increasing the likelihood they will remain and contribute to the Indian economy.
- Stimulating the Domestic Academic Ecosystem: The competition and collaboration with foreign institutions can drive Indian universities to improve their own standards, making the domestic education landscape more attractive overall for retaining talent.
- Building Global-Recognised Local Hubs: Campuses like UNSW Bengaluru can develop into centres of excellence that attract both Indian and international students, making India a net importer of educational services and intellectual talent.
How are these institutions regulated in India?
The regulation of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) in India is governed by guidelines under the National Education Policy 2020 and the University Grants Commission (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023. Key regulatory aspects include:
- Approval Process: FHEIs must apply to the UGC for approval to set up a campus. They must be ranked within the top 500 globally or be reputed institutions in their home country.
- Autonomy on Offerings: They have autonomy to decide admission criteria, fee structure (must be “transparent and reasonable”), and curriculum, but the degrees awarded must have the same recognition as if they were awarded by the institution in its home country.
- Cross-Border Movement: Regulations facilitate smooth faculty and student exchange between the Indian campus and the main campus abroad.
- For-Profit Operations: FHEIs are permitted to repatriate surplus funds, making the model financially viable for them.
- Quality Assurance: While autonomous, they are subject to the relevant Indian laws and must maintain quality standards comparable to their home campus.
What are the major challenges associated with it?
- Ensuring Affordability & Equity: There is a risk that these institutions may become enclaves for the elite due to high fees, potentially exacerbating educational inequality unless robust scholarship systems are integrated.
- Cultural & Academic Integration: Ensuring the curriculum is relevant to the Indian context while maintaining global standards, and avoiding a purely transactional “branch campus” model, is crucial.
- Regulatory Hurdles & Bureaucracy: Navigating Indian regulatory, land acquisition, and administrative processes can be complex and time-consuming for foreign institutions.
- Competition for Domestic Institutions: Top-tier Indian private and public universities may face intensified competition for students, faculty, and resources, potentially destabilising weaker institutions.
Sovereignty & Academic Freedom: Balancing the autonomy of foreign institutions with adherence to Indian constitutional values, national interests, and social context remains a sensitive area requiring careful oversight.
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The Source’s Authority and Ownership of the Article is Claimed By THE STUDY IAS BY MANIKANT SINGH
