Even though a law on allowing FDI in higher education may still take some time to materialise, higher educational institutes abroad have started exploring opportunities for setting up campuses and partnership in the country.
NEW DELHI: Even though a law on allowing FDI in higher education may still take some time to materialise, higher educational institutes abroad have started exploring opportunities for setting up campuses and partnership in the country. Representatives of nearly 200 universities and colleges from the US, UK and Europe have visited India in the past 3 months.
Private education providers see the increasing interest of foreign varsities as both threat and opportunity. Some believe they may have a better chance of growth by partnering foreign varsities, while others argue that big money from abroad may put at stake the survival of small private institutions.
A US delegation of six universities and colleges led by US Under secretary of for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen P Hughes concluded its three-day long visit to New Delhi on Thursday. Last month a delegation from the UK, comprising representatives of Royal College of Physician, Royal College of Surgeon, University College, London, Imperial College, London, and York University, had also come in.
Surprisingly, the biggest response so far has come from France, not generally a preferred destination for Indian students. Representatives of nearly 150 French universities and colleges have visited India in a bid to understand the sector and explore market opportunities.
Foreign varsity officials have been visiting educational institutions, meeting students, consulting private and public education providers, industry bodies and government officials here.
Things may actually start falling in place only after the new law on FDI in Higher Education is in place.
“We have been looking at India for a long time. And we would be here not long after the new law is in place,” says Johnson & Wales University president John J Bowen adding that they would partner a local player for setting up a campus and ensure that training is imparted partly in India and the US.
But not all universities may be interested in setting up campus in India. “We would like to help Indian institutions build programme and not campus,” says Oakton Community College President Margaret B Lee. Similarly, North Carolina State University, which currently has over 500 students and 40 faculty member from India, would want collaboration with Indian institutions for faculty exchange and research.
And then there could be a whole range of courses on offer. Some want to target students wishing to pursue medical, engineering and IT sectors, while others like Johnson and Wales wish to begin courses in hospitality and finance.
So it’s going to be an exciting time for the Indian higher education sector. “The government wants to double the number of students exposed to the higher education in the next three years.