After The Offer Letter

Context: National Education Policy-2020 (NEP-2020) has many provisions for improving the quality of higher education, including the objective of internationalisation of higher education.

Steps taken for internationalisation of higher education in India: by opening international branch campuses (IBCs) in India

• Provisions under NEP-2020: to invite the top 100 World-Class Universities to open IBCs in India.
  • It will raise the standard of research and teaching to international levels and slow down the out-bound mobility of Indian students
• Government schemes to strengthen collaboration: like Global Initiative for Academic Networks (GIAN) and Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC).
• Held series of conversations: with various stakeholders to explore the potential of the policy of branch campuses and gauge the mood of top universities’ interest in India.
  • For E.g. it has been brought to notice through such conversation that certain universities are not looking forward to state-sponsored infrastructure like Dubai Knowledge Hub has offered.
• Encouraging the inflow of foreign students: India is a potential destination for study abroad experiences (that Top universities encourage) due to its multiple cultures.
  • The Study in India programme was launched in April 2018 with generous scholarships.

Constraints for opening IBCs in India:

• Profit-driven motive: Certain universities are not looking forward to the state-sponsored infrastructure of the kind that the Dubai Knowledge Hub has offered.
  • This is because they want flexibility in the repatriation of incomes to the Parent University.
• Bias towards science and business-oriented courses: Social sciences and humanities are not seen as profitable ventures.
  • In the case of social sciences and humanities, foreign institutions demand more autonomy in framing and changing curriculum and daily functioning.
• Demand to be treated on par with Indian institutions: in matters of government funding and scholarships.
  • In return, IBCs are willing to implement the Indian policy of social inclusion in higher education.

Conclusion: IBCs, with its international standards, can attract more international students to explore and experience Indian education and culture.