Foreign universities may get India ticket

NEW DELHI: India moved another step closer towards hosting campuses of foreign universities, with the Cabinet clearing a long-pending
legislation, which the government described as a milestone that will enhance choices, increase competition and benchmark quality.

“A larger revolution than even in the telecom sector awaits us,” said human resource development minister Kapil Sibal regarding the foreign education bill that will now go to Parliament for ratification. The move was welcomed by domestic private players in the education sector, and foreign universities, too, lauded the effort, but many of them said they had no immediate plans to set up campuses in India.

The Foreign Educational Institution (Regulation of Entry and Operation ) Bill will be the government’s second attempt at clearing decks for foreign universities. An earlier version of the bill was cleared by the Cabinet of the first UPA administration in 2007, but it could not be introduced in Parliament because of objection by Left parties who were then propping up the government. With the Left’s clout considerably depleted in UPA-II , the government hopes that chances are bright that the bill, which has been revised since then, will go through.

A senior government functionary said they expect opposition from the Left, the BSP, the SP and the RJD, but are hopeful of getting the support of the BJP and other parties. Top drawer foreign universities have been keen on one of the world’s largest education markets, but so far have been lukewarm about the idea of setting up base in India. During his visits to India last year, Yale University president Richard C Levin had indicated that his university was not considering setting up base in India in the foreseeable future . Similar sentiments have been echoed by Harvard and Cornell universities.

On Monday, Yale University’s assistant secretary for international affairs George Joseph said Yale does not have any immediate plans to set up campus in India and would continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration with other institutes. “We are planning to set up a research centre or a research institute in India,” Mr Joseph said. Echoing a similar sentiment , Ravneet Pawha, the India country director of Deakin University of Australia , said the university would focus on its existing partnerships and collaborations in India. Many top-ranking universities have sectoral partnership arrangements with Indian institutions.

GLOBAL LESSONS

1

Some big US and European B-schools have tapped overseas markets like Singapore and the Gulf and are unlikely to make a major foray into India right now. However, others like pension funds may look at setting up new institutes here, or investing in existing ones

2

Some issues such as regulatory framework to look into dual degrees, portability of credits have not been addressed in the bill in a big way. Hence, some foreign colleges looking forward to partnership models will now be forced to wait longer for their Indian foray

3

Bill not very clear on globalisation of Indian curriculum that would have helped Indian institutions offer more globalised courses

4

Move will make Indian institutions more competitive and lead to better quality of higher education in the long term