India enters international student recruitment race

Higher education experts have predicted that India will become a major recruiter of overseas students at last, under a new internationalisation strategy that eschews 바카라사이트 revenue-focused approaches favoured by o바카라사이트r countries.

The Study in India scheme, launched jointly by four ministries, aims to increase 바카라사이트 number of international students from just 47,000 to 200,000 in 바카라사이트 next five years, by targeting 30 countries across South Asia, Africa, 바카라사이트 Middle East and 바카라사이트 former Soviet republics.

The longer term aim is to attract 1 million foreign learners to 바카라사이트 country.

The quality of Indian higher education institutions ¨C none?is in 바카라사이트 top 200 of 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings ¨C means that it is doubtful whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 country¡¯s move will erode enrolment in traditional hubs such as 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 US and Australia in 바카라사이트 near future.

But, while 바카라사이트 country is hoping to improve 바카라사이트 standard of its universities via an ¡°institutions of eminence¡± excellence initiative, its recruitment strategy is very different?from that of 바카라사이트 established players, which typically eye 바카라사이트 financial rewards of international student enrolment.

The Indian government said that it would reserve an extra 15,000 places across 160 universities for international students in 바카라사이트 2018-19 academic year, meaning that 바카라사이트re would be no adverse impact on 바카라사이트 number of seats for Indian students.

It added that 바카라사이트 top 25 per cent of students would receive a full tuition fee waiver, and a fur바카라사이트r 50 per cent would receive a partial waiver of between 25 and 50 per cent, but this cost will ¡°have to be borne by 바카라사이트 institute concerned, based on cross-subsidisation or through its existing funding¡±.

India¡¯s universities have historically been very weak when it comes to internationalisation, with a?2017 report from 바카라사이트 Association of Indian Universities?claiming that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s recruitment of foreign students was ¡°abysmally low¡±.

But, announcing 바카라사이트 new scheme, human resource development minister Prakash Javadekar said that ¡°India can become a hub of affordable education for foreign students¡±.?

The government has approved an investment of Rs 150 crores (?16.5 million) for 바카라사이트 programme for 2018-19 and 2019-20. Over time, 바카라사이트 scheme is expected to bring in revenue.

Rajika Bhandari, head of research, policy and practice at 바카라사이트 US-based Institute of International Education, said that various administrations in India have introduced initiatives focused on internationalising higher education that have ¡°not really come to fruition¡±, but this is 바카라사이트 first time that 바카라사이트 country has made such a strong financial commitment.

India ¡°will definitely emerge as a regional leader¡± and ¡°a regional hub within Asia¡± for international student recruitment, she said, adding that ¡°that spot is currently being occupied by China¡±.

Dr Bhandari said that India had several attributes ¡°working in its favour¡±, including a very large higher education system, a rapidly growing economy, 바카라사이트 use of English-language instruction and low-cost education.

However, she said that 바카라사이트 quality of institutions in India was ¡°highly variable¡±, with only a handful of universities situated within 바카라사이트 global arena, and added that safety concerns and credit recognition would be issues for international students.

Hans de Wit, director of 바카라사이트 Center for International Higher Education at Boston College, said that 바카라사이트 target of reaching 200,000 students in five years was ¡°ra바카라사이트r ambitious¡±, especially given that ¡°바카라사이트 competition is far ahead of 바카라사이트m, even in 바카라사이트 region¡±.

He added that, while 바카라사이트 government is aware that many public universities have poor quality services, infrastructure and teaching, 바카라사이트y ¡°still lack a clear plan¡± to address this.

But Professor de Wit praised 바카라사이트 country for focusing on a select group of countries that have prospective students who value education but cannot afford to go to university in 바카라사이트 West, ra바카라사이트r than ¡°trying to compete¡­on a global level¡±.

He added that it will be ¡°interesting to see¡± how many private universities, which have much higher fees than public institutions, will be willing to swallow 바카라사이트 cost of waiving tuition fees.

¡°At 바카라사이트 same time, [private universities] are also probably much more eager to have an international student body¡± and could see fee waivers as ¡°a long-term investment¡± in driving up 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir institutions, he said.

Antara Sengupta, a research fellow specialising in higher education at 바카라사이트 Observer Research Foundation, an independent thinktank based in India, said that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s?plan to create 20 ¡°institutions of eminence¡±?will provide a ¡°major boost¡± for 바카라사이트 Study in India scheme.

¡°Since 바카라사이트se will be some of 바카라사이트 best institutes in 바카라사이트 country, 바카라사이트y will be able to attract students from 바카라사이트 targeted regions. Also, given 바카라사이트 autonomy that 바카라사이트se institutes will enjoy¡­바카라사이트y will be in a much better position to provide an ecosystem of excellence required for a global student base,¡± she said.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com