Now that the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulation will allow reputed (top 500) foreign higher education institutions (FHEIs) to set up branch campuses in India, let’s look at how these campuses will benefit us.
Global outlook, exposure and employment: According to the Ministry of External Affairs, 1,324,954 Indians were studying abroad in 2022. While it’s true that most prefer to go abroad for better career prospects, a large number of students do so for global exposure and the opportunity to pursue diverse courses and specialisations, essentially opening themselves up for ‘global jobs’. The National Education Policy 2020 recognises this and has given a similar directive to Indian universities. As our universities reorient themselves to prepare students for global jobs, we now need specialised institutions. This is where branch campuses of FHEIs can play a key role, bringing in a variety of teaching methods, cultural perspectives and academic approaches that can broaden the global outlook of Indian students.
Cost of global education: While studying abroad is expensive, the high cost of living is a real challenge for most Indian students. For example, the estimated monthly cost of living in the US is around $2,000 (or more, depending on the city). This works out to more than Rs 1.5 lakh, on top of the already high tuition fees. With FHEIs in India, qualified students can find it affordable to pursue the education of their choice without the high cost of living. This can help stem the economic outflow from the country.
Retaining talent in India: The Ministry of Education noted that in 2022 alone, 750,365 students will move abroad to pursue higher education, up from 518,015 in 2018. Around 75% of those who study abroad prefer to settle there. This is evidenced by the growth of the Indian diaspora in many of the most popular study abroad countries – migration often begins with a search for better education. But this is also a brain drain – these brains could have played a role in building our economy. By setting up campuses of FHEIs in India, we can stem some of this brain drain.
Attract talent to the sector: India’s higher education sector is unable to attract and retain the best talent for teaching, research and administrative roles. Sectors such as technology, automotive, banking and entertainment have overtaken education. With FHEIs, there is a signal value at the sector level as these institutions recruit from India or abroad, collaborate with the existing academic fraternity and create new job roles for teaching and non-teaching staff within the country.
A destination for global education: India aims to enrol over half a million foreign students annually by 2047, making it a major destination for global education. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, around 330,000 foreign students from more than 160 countries came to India for higher education in 2016-21, with a 14% increase in 2021 compared to 2020. India is a popular destination for students from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. The presence of FHEI campuses in India is expected to increase this influx, as many students who would have chosen to study at the campuses of these FHEIs in their home countries may choose to study at the Indian campuses, considering that they would receive the same quality of education at a lower cost of living and closer to their home countries. More students from Africa, the Middle East and the Far East might consider India as a study destination.
Taking our research global: Research and innovation play a critical role in the development of any nation. Over the past few decades, India has demonstrated its research prowess across sectors. From developing Covid-19 vaccines to building the world’s cheapest spacecraft (Chandrayaan 3), India can provide solutions to global challenges. As FHEIs bring cutting-edge research infrastructure, facilities and technology from their home campuses, they can enhance India’s research capabilities.
In conclusion, I believe that FHEI campuses in India will go beyond providing education to a few students. It will be the beginning of the recognition of Indian talent to be accepted globally across sectors and levels.
