Giving a boost to the government’s effort towards internationalization of Indian higher education, 48 foreign universities have responded since UGC’s new regulations and guidelines for twinning, joint degree, and dual degree programs between Indian and foreign universities.
This followed the momentous decision in the early weeks of 2023, when the UGC unveiled draft regulations apparently paving the way for foreign universities and other institutions to establish physical campuses for the first time in India. (See https://apacnewsnetwork.com/2023/01/indian-campuses-for-foreign-universities-a-divided-academia/)
The UGC communicated with 55 ambassadors of overseas countries based in New Delhi where these top universities are located as well as with the Indian ambassadors in these countries. There is going to be an online application process, and subsequently UGC will give them a letter of intent (LoI). Within two years of this permission being granted, these universities are expected to build campuses in India and start their academic programs.
While India’s universities have produced some of the top business and technology leaders working today, access to higher education in India remains limited. Passage of the UGC proposal would broaden the availability of university courses in India to include increased offerings in needed fields such as economics, business, the humanities, arts, technology, public health and the sciences, among others.
With proper implementation, APAC News Network argues that over time the UGC’s proposal would help address socioeconomic disparities, address government funding shortfalls for public universities, lower education costs for Indian households and help contribute to India becoming a top world destination for study abroad and scholarly exchange.
Eager Response from Overseas Universities
APAC News Network tracks the status of how overseas universities have responded till date and the interests they have evinced in setting up campuses in India. While University of Glasgow, Scotland, expressed its interest to discuss the potential for academic collaboration, Deakin University, Australia, in its communication to India’s higher education regulator stated that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is a progressive policy which would help the university establish new relations with Indian institutions.
The University of Queensland, Australia, has already met UGC officials for potential collaboration, while according to UGC sources, a university from France has committed to set up a satellite centre in India soon. The University of Tokyo in its response to UGC stated the proposal is attractive and should not be just restricted to it but should be taken up as a common interest among all the universities and institutions in Japan.
University of Cambridge too wrote to UGC stating that it has been following the developments of the “NEP with great interest,” and apart from existing partnerships is looking for new ones. Bangor University, Wales, feels this is a good time for further collaborations. SOAS University of London is looking forward towards collaborations as per the new regulations.
The University of Manchester too wants to discuss the UGC Policy and support for twinning arrangements. Similar responses were received from Universität Jena, Germany, and Durban University of Technology, South Africa, among others.
Action Started from Universities
Deakin University, Australia, has become the first foreign university to receive approval for an International Branch Campus (IBC) in GIFT-IFSC, GIFT City, Gujarat from the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). The university has been approved in-principle by the IFSCA based on GIFT City Company Limited’s recommendation.
According to the expressions of interest received so far, GIFT IFSC expects that the entry of the first foreign university will establish the stage for many more institutions of global repute to follow, based on interest expressions so far. Injeti Srinivas, Chairperson, IFSCA, said: “Apart from making available world class education within India (GIFT-IFSC), it is also expected to be a huge value proposition in terms of reduced costs for students with greater international employment opportunities. This will also lead to greater internationalization of GIFT-IFSC by attracting students from all parts of the World.”
Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani has collaborated with Australia’s RMIT University to launch a joint BITS-RMIT academy offering dual degree. The academy will start four undergraduate engineering programmes and a PhD program in mid 2023. Students will start studying at BITS, experience the RMIT academic environment through courses co-taught by BITS and RMIT faculty, and move to RMIT, Melbourne, for two years.
Speaking about the partnership with RMIT University, Professor Bhattacharyya said, “…The Academy will offer uniquely designed programs leveraging the excellence and legacy of the BITS Pilani and RMIT University systems, with faculty, students, and researchers in close collaboration. We look forward to a new era of academic cooperation that will define and deliver the best attributes of a global graduate and citizen.”
The University of Wollongong and Deakin University will set up campuses in the GIFT city of Gujarat. Saying that it is part of a two-step process including the recognition of qualification degrees and working together with professions in mutual recognition agreements, Australian education minister Jason Clare said that Australian and Indian graduates will be able to practice professionally in either country and added: “That is something we will look at in the context of the new economic cooperation and trade agreement between Australia and India.”
SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) and and Virginia Tech jointly launched a new dual-degree programme offering Master of Science (Economics) for a duration of two years, with one year at NMIMS and the next year at Virginia Tech, USA. The curriculum focus is on experiential and skill-based learning that is designed to meet the demands of the modern corporation, the government, and academia.
