The Indian Union Minister of Education on 1 December 2021 responded to a parliament question reaffirming government plans to provide similar facilities available abroad to students in India so that they can study in-country. The Minister informed that several steps are being taken to provide better higher education opportunities to Indian students and that policy changes being made will support internationalisation as set out in the National Education Policy.

As part of the plan, research and teaching collaborations, as well as faculty and student exchanges with high-quality foreign institutions, will be facilitated, and relevant mutually beneficial MOUs with foreign countries will be signed. High-performing Indian universities will be encouraged to set up campuses in other countries, and similarly, selected universities from among the top 100 in the world will be facilitated to operate in India. A legislative framework and standard operating procedures facilitating such entry will be put in place that would help with regulatory, governance, and content norms to make it at par with other autonomous institutions of India.

Furthermore, research collaboration and student exchanges between Indian institutions and global institutions will be promoted through special efforts. Credits acquired in foreign universities will be permitted, where appropriate as per the requirements of each HEI, to be counted for the award of a degree. Twinning arrangements between Indian and foreign institutions will be permitted in accordance with the University Grants Commission guidelines for Internationalisation of Higher Education https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/upload_document/int_he.pdf

 British Council Comments:

The National Education Policy, 2020 envisions attaining the highest global standards and quality in higher education through systemic and institutional improvements to regulation, governance, and promotion of multidisciplinary academics and research in Indian HEIs.

The official statement made by the Minister in Parliament reiterates the intent that there will be opportunities for academic and research international collaborations, however, major policy changes and their implementation on the ground take time. With all the measures planned such as the academic credit recognition, regulations for joint/dual/twinning degrees and legislation to open branch campuses by foreign institutions in India, the future prospect for transnational education looks encouraging. It means that as this unfolds, there are likely to be opportunities arising for forming new and long-term partnerships which the UK HEIs could explore.

If you have any further questions, please write to Sandeepa Sahay

For further reading:

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/education/over-55-drop-in-number-of-students-going-abroad-for-higher-education-minister-of-education/articleshow/88035626.cms

https://www.edexlive.com/news/2021/dec/02/over-55-per-cent-drop-in-students-going-abroad-education-minister-pradhan-tells-rajya-sabha-26015.html

https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/over-55-drop-in-number-of-students-going-abroad-for-higher-education-moe-121120101557_1.html

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1702453