India’s new education policy to bring top global universities closer home for students

• The National Education Policy, which has many welcome steps for students in the country, also allowed foreign universities to set up campuses in India.
• The latest policy will also facilitate Indian colleges to set up campuses abroad and has also encouraged student exchange programs between Indian and established institutions abroad.
• Earlier, under The Foreign Educational Institutions Bill (2010), international colleges could offer courses in India only through a partnership with an Indian college.

Over 750,000 Indian students are studying in colleges abroad and most of them incur expenses running over lakhs for even a year of education in some of the prestigious colleges. But soon, the Indian students' aspiration of having an Ivy League name on their resume, can be a ‘closer’ dream now.

The Indian government’s historic changes to the National Education Policy, which has many welcome steps for students in the country, also allowed foreign universities to set up campuses in India. With this, India has opened the doors for the world’s top 100 universities to operate in the country.

“A legislative framework facilitating such entry (of foreign universities) will be put in place, and such universities will be given special dispensation regarding regulatory, governance, and content norms on par with other autonomous institutions of India,” says the policy.

The latest policy will also facilitate Indian colleges to set up campuses abroad and has also encouraged student exchange programs between Indian and established institutions abroad. “"Research/teaching collaborations and faculty/student exchanges with high-quality foreign institutions will be facilitated, and relevant mutually-beneficial MOUs with foreign countries will be signed,” said the policy.

The move from the government has been appreciated by many as it will boost India’s image as the centre of education. “Allowing Indian universities to set up offshore campuses as well as facilitating foreign universities to operate in India, will not only increase the quality of education, but also strengthen India’s position on the map as a global education destination,” said Nitish Jain, President, SP Jain School of Global Management.

Earlier, under The Foreign Educational Institutions Bill (2010), international colleges could offer courses in India only through a partnership with an Indian college.

However, academicians have also noted that the entry of foreign colleges in India should not be without any regulations.

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