Indian campuses of Foreign Universities: What to expect from them
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is currently in the process of finalizing guidelines aimed at enabling prominent foreign universities to establish campuses within India. This initiative aligns with the objectives outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020, which seeks to enhance the educational opportunities accessible to Indian students.
While we await the release of these guidelines, it is essential to comprehend the underlying issues this proposal aims to address, as well as those challenges it may not directly tackle. See the news here for Two Australian universities establishing their campuses in Gujrat, India
1. A little history first and the Motivations for Students Studying Abroad
Students who choose to leave India for education have varied motivations. Having experienced this trend firsthand and having belonged to a cohort that largely pursued education abroad in the 1990s, I can attest that a prominent motivation back then was the pursuit of improved career prospects and a better quality of life for oneself and one’s family.
Later, it became a matter of pride. This aspiration is reciprocated by the host countries, which actively welcome foreign students. Moreover, countries abroad also market their education systems within India, seeking to attract skilled professionals to bolster their workforce.
As a result, it’s likely that many universities establishing campuses in India will provide students with opportunities to transition to their home country’s campuses in the later stages of their programs, facilitating employment prospects. Such an arrangement would likely be beneficial for all stakeholders involved.
2. Scenario now
The majority of students who opt to study abroad typically finance their education themselves, resulting in a substantial financial burden on their families. A report by ASSOCHAM from 2008 estimated that the cost of education for students studying abroad exceeds Rs 500 billion (50,000 crore). In contrast, the collective higher education spending by students studying within India also amounts to around Rs 500 billion.
so, the per capita cost of studying abroad is nearly 100 times higher than that of studying in India. Whether a student goes abroad for education or a foreign university establishes a presence in India, it’s unlikely that this cost disparity will significantly change. At least for tuition fees. However, other expenses would be at least 40 times low. Given this, why is there a push to attract foreign universities to Indian soil?
2.1 A Little Statistics
Recent statistics from the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) for the year 2021 reveal that India is home to approximately 41.4 million (4.14 crores) students pursuing various degree programs across more than 43,000 colleges and over 1,100 universities. Though there is a potential of 15 crore adults who can pursue higher studies. Foreign Universities see a big market here.
To put this figure into context, it’s worth noting that India has around 152 million (15.2 crores) young citizens aged between 18 and 23 years. In addition to this, we must consider the number of students who choose to study abroad. According to data presented by the Ministry of Education in Parliament, around 7,50,000 students departed from India in 2022 alone for overseas education, marking a significant 68% increase from the previous year. However, this figure leaving India annually for higher studies still accounts for less than 2% of the total student population. The amount of money these 2% spend aboad is the same as the rest 98% spend in India. You can see this is 100 times you spend more in foreign universities abroad.
The initiative to attract foreign universities to establish campuses in India is not solely focused on addressing this 2% figure. The rationale behind this move goes beyond merely reducing the number of students going abroad for education and then to livelihood. There are more comprehensive reasons driving this endeavor.
3. Objectives of Introducing Foreign Universities
The endeavor to establish campuses of foreign universities in India serves two primary purposes:
a. Enhancing Diversity and Quality
First and foremost, it aims to infuse diversity into the Indian education system. The introduction of a foreign university would bring unique perspectives and high-quality educational standards to the Indian academic landscape.
The UGC’s preliminary guidelines stipulate that while the fees must be transparent and reasonable, the quality of education delivered at the Indian campus should be on par with that of the university’s main campus in its home country. This expectation places a substantial but justified demand on any foreign institution considering this opportunity, especially those ranked within the top 500 globally. The universities opting to establish campuses in India would contribute to promoting diversity.
The presence of foreign universities in India would not only expand educational options for Indian students but also encourage domestic universities and faculty members to aspire to higher levels of performance, encompassing improved teaching and research standards.
However, for this encouraging push to achieve the desired outcomes, it is crucial for the UGC to ensure a level playing field regarding academic, administrative, and financial autonomy, both for Indian universities and their foreign counterparts. Such equitable treatment would foster healthy competition, ultimately enhancing the overall quality and excellence of higher education in India.
b. Curbing Foreign Exchange Outflow:
The second objective pertains to stemming the outflow of foreign exchange from the country. Foreign universities considering the establishment of campuses in India are likely to aim for a balance between their cost structures and quality expectations. If the goal is to ensure that education is on par with the main campus, cost considerations would also have to align. While there might be initial disparities, over time, costs are expected to converge.
While tuition fees might not differ much, additional costs like scholarships, living expenses and other expenses might make a difference. This is 100 times you spend more in foreign universities abroad.
The prospect of recruiting Indian faculty members for foreign university campuses in India may not offer a sustainable long-term solution due to eventual cost dynamics. When it comes to faculty, foreign universities boast of global professors who bring an international perspective to teaching. However, Indian universities have their own set of experienced and qualified teachers who understand the local context. This difference in teaching approaches and styles can impact the learning process.
Therefore, it’s conceivable that a modest proportion of Indian students would enroll at these foreign campuses, paying higher fees compared to their counterparts at Indian universities, in order to obtain a foreign degree. This approach could help mitigate the outflow of foreign exchange to some extent.
4. The future trends
Recent data indicates that only 8% of graduates from IIT Madras have chosen to leave India in the past five years. This exemplifies the changing landscape of contemporary India.
As we grapple with the notion of foreign universities establishing a presence in India, it’s important to recognize that this initiative might not single-handedly address India’s Gross Enrollment Ratio or be a comprehensive solution for scaling universities in the country. Innovative solutions, heavily reliant on technology-enabled education delivery paradigms, will likely be pivotal in tackling these challenges. We await further developments in this intriguing journey.
