Pranav Gupta of Ashoka University elucidates- Impact of Foreign universities opening campuses in India
New Delhi : Changes in the global market economy have forced several nations to embrace foreign sources in diverse manners. India’s education system is extensively regulated, but the present government is working to revamp it with new policies and regulations. In an effort to reform the country's higher education system, India has decided to move toward authorizing renowned global universities like Yale, Harvard, Oxford and more to open campuses and grant degrees. “Several global institutions are in alliance with Indian universities, enabling students to do some of their coursework in India and conclude their programs on the main campus overseas. These foreign schools will be enticed to establish campuses without the need to collaborate with local institutions by this move. It significantly alters the landscape of Indian education,” asserts Pranav Gupta of Ashoka University.
Stanford, Oxford, Harvard, and other renowned higher educational institutions can now establish campuses in India thanks to these regulations drafted by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The change will enable students to receive a top-notch education without having to pay a hefty sum of money. This initiative will make it possible for Indian students to earn international degrees at a reasonable price and promote India as a desirable global destination for education. Additionally, it will make it easier for international institutions to reach the nation's youth.
These proposed standards, which align with NEP 2020, would globalize higher education. However, before proceeding, UGC requested public remarks and suggestions on the matter. In addition, UGC chairperson M. Jagadesh Kumar stated that foreign universities and higher education institutions would require approval from the UGC in order to establish campuses in India, and they would need to be placed among the global top 500 in overall or subject-specific rankings.
Pranav Gupta Ashoka University Founder points, “Despite producing a number of well-known figures, many Indian universities and colleges frequently perform poorly in world rankings. In order to compete more effectively in the global market and close the expanding gap between college curriculum and market conditions, the nation must now strengthen its education system. In this instance, such measures, coupled with the NEP, would simplify the process for foreign institutions to increase their presence in India and improve the entire higher education sector.”
The UGC chairman added that institutions seeking to establish a branch in India must provide full-time programmes in the physical setting, not through online or distant education mode. These foreign higher education institutions will have the autonomy to determine the admissions procedure and fee structure. However, the UGC has suggested in keeping the cost structure fair and clear. Students who enroll in these institutions will not be eligible for scholarships from the Indian government. However, all of these universities will have a need-based scholarship programme. Regarding faculty, these institutions will have the ability to recruit both domestically and internationally in accordance with their hiring standards.
For a long time, the majority of Indian students moved abroad to pursue higher education in developed Western nations like the US, UK, Germany, Canada, Australia and more. When these students leave India, there is a massive outflow of capital from the country. Again, there are many students who are talented and capable but lack the funds to attend the institutions of their choice. “Such a step can help retain our students while assuring that everyone has access to quality education accessible without having to depart the country. Our students would have a prospect at better education and it would give them exposure to world-class learning. In addition, it would enhance competitiveness and force our Indian institutions to get back in the game and raise their quality standards to meet market requirements,” highlights Pranav Gupta Ashoka University Founder.
