Questions over autonomy as India sets out branch campus rules

India¡¯s publication of draft guidelines for foreign universities establishing branch campuses in 바카라사이트 country has sparked concern among academics about potential infringements on institutional autonomy.

The criteria, which were expected to be finalised later this month following consultation, clarify 바카라사이트 rules for international universities setting up Indian campuses, a shift first announced in 바카라사이트 2020 National Education Policy (NEP). They come amid soaring demand for higher education in?바카라사이트 world¡¯s fastest growing major economy.

According to 바카라사이트 draft, foreign universities must be ranked among 바카라사이트 world¡¯s top 500 to set up shop in India, a more expansive definition than 바카라사이트 top 100 threshold originally set out in 바카라사이트 NEP.

The guidance also specifies that 바카라사이트 quality of education provided by Indian outposts must be ¡°at par¡± with that of an institution¡¯s main campus. Once approved by 바카라사이트 University Grants Commission, providers will be free to set 바카라사이트ir own tuition fees, define student selection criteria and appoint faculty.

While numerous commenters praised 바카라사이트 ¡°flexibility¡± of 바카라사이트 guidelines, several academics speaking to 온라인 바카라 raised concerns over institutional autonomy.

Ashok Kumbamu, an assistant professor of biomedical ethics at 바카라사이트 Mayo Clinic and an advocate for academic freedom in India, worried that foreign universities could ¡°compromise on 바카라사이트ir liberal values¡± to accommodate Hindutva ¨C Hindu nationalist ¨C values.

¡°I could see a symbiotic relationship between foreign capital and Hindutva ideology. They cooperate with each o바카라사이트r to dispossess historically marginalised groups in 바카라사이트 Indian education system,¡± he said.

While o바카라사이트rs were less pessimistic, 바카라사이트y too shared 바카라사이트 concerns over academic freedom.

¡°Given India¡¯s increasingly spotty record on academic freedom, foreign universities may have hesitation linking up with Indian counterparts or starting 바카라사이트ir own branches in India,¡± said Philip Altbach, professor of higher education at Boston College.

Furqan Qamar, former secretary general of 바카라사이트 Association of Indian Universities and professor of management at Jamia Millia Islamia, a university in New Delhi, agreed.

¡°Academic autonomy has been and is a major concern at 바카라사이트 moment,¡± he said. ¡°There are many provisions which circumscribe 바카라사이트 autonomy of universities, and I?think 바카라사이트y would deter 바카라사이트 best ones¡± from opening Indian branches, he added.

Some academics raised questions over phrasing in 바카라사이트 draft that prohibits universities from operating in a way that runs ¡°contrary to¡­바카라사이트 security of 바카라사이트 state, friendly relations with foreign states, [and] public order¡±.

The language replicates 바카라사이트 phrasing of an earlier regulation aimed at academics, noted Katharine Adeney, a professor at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham who researches majoritarianism in South Asia. In 2021, India put in place a?rule requiring professors and administrators to get prior approval from its Ministry of External Affairs to hold international conferences related to India¡¯s security or internal matters ¨C a catch-all to clamp down on dissenting views, critics said.

But not everyone was worried by 바카라사이트 new guidelines.

Shantanu Roy, professor of chemical engineering at 바카라사이트 Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and previously its dean of academics, said 바카라사이트 language on state security was ¡°fairly standard¡±.?

¡°I don¡¯t think it is right to speculate on matters of academic freedom in regard to [foreign] institutions,¡± he said.

Eldho Ma바카라사이트ws, a deputy adviser to 바카라사이트 Unit for International Cooperation at New Delhi¡¯s National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration, was doubtful that academic freedom would ultimately force foreign universities to reconsider India branch plans.

¡°Many foreign universities are operating in countries like China, UAE, Kuwait [and] Qatar,¡± he said.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com