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India can support the global higher-ed ecosystem by getting large number of foreign students in our institutions: Sunil K Barnwal, Additional Secretary, Higher Education
Oct 18, 2024
NEW DELHI. 18 October 2024: India's higher education sector is embarking on an ambitious journey of internationalisation, with the government actively encouraging foreign universities to establish campuses in the country while supporting Indian institutions in expanding overseas. This strategic move, underpinned by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to transform India into a global education powerhouse.
At the 19th FICCI Higher Education Summit 2024, Mr Sunil K Barnwal, Additional Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, Government of India, highlighted the country's readiness to welcome international students and institutions.
"India has reached that level where not only our students should go to the best universities in other countries, but our institutions are also ready to invite large numbers of foreign students," Mr Barnwal stated. "We can support the global higher education ecosystem by getting large numbers of foreign students in our institutions and even allowing foreign universities to open campuses in India."
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has already issued regulations for establishing campuses by foreign higher education institutions in India. Simultaneously, Indian universities are expanding their global footprint, with recent examples including the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi opening a campus in Abu Dhabi and IIT Madras establishing a presence in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
This push for internationalisation is part of a broader strategy outlined in the NEP 2020, which the additional secretary described as "not just a sheer policy document, but a great vision document". The policy aims to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education from the current 29% to 50% by 2035, potentially opening up opportunities for over 100 million students.
Earlier during the inaugural session, British High Commissioner to India, Ms Lindy Cameron CB OBE,outlined three changing paradigms reshaping global higher education during the inaugural session. Firstly, she highlighted universities' expanding reach beyond geographical constraints, citing the University of Southampton's upcoming Gurugram campus as an example of providing international exposure to Indian students at home. Secondly, Cameron emphasised the increasing multi-directionality of student mobility flows, with India aiming to welcome 500,000 international students by 2035 and the UK encouraging its students to study in India.
Lastly, High Commissioner Cameron discussed the evolution towards a more holistic approach to higher education, connecting research, mobility, and innovation. She mentioned the Technology and Security initiative announced by British Foreign Secretary David Lemmy, which aims to build on existing bilateral research, science, and innovation collaborations between the UK and India.
Ms Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI, emphasised that India is strategically positioning itself on the global education map, with its young, ambitious population eager to bridge the gap between developed and developing economies. She underscored the urgency of adapting, innovating, collaborating, and thinking beyond conventional boundaries to envision an education system that is inclusive, future-ready, and globally connected.
Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar, Chair of the FICCI Higher Education Committee and Pro-Chancellor of Symbiosis International University, highlighted several key trends transforming the global higher education landscape. She emphasised the significant increase in research collaborations between Indian and foreign universities, noting that "India is like a laboratory" for partners seeking to address complex challenges. She noted that the internationalisation of higher education has progressed rapidly, evolving from simple exchange programs to more substantial engagements such as dual degrees and joint degrees and the establishment of foreign campuses in India and Indian campuses overseas. Dr. Yeravdekar also stressed the urgent need for new models of financing higher education, particularly in the private sector, which relies heavily on student tuition fees.
Dr Sekar Viswanathan Past Co-Chair-FICCI HE Committee & Vice President, VIT, also spoke on occasion.
FICCI Higher Education Excellence Awards 2024 were also given out during the event. The awards celebrated outstanding achievements across India's higher education landscape, recognising institutions in both private and public sectors. The awards covered a wide range of categories, including Excellence in Creating Employment, Globalisation of Education, Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Institutional Social Responsibility.