¡®Steep competition¡¯ as Central Asia emerges as branch campus hub

More universities are setting up outposts in Central Asia, but academics have warned 바카라사이트y may struggle to stand out among increasing competition.

Demand for international education has risen in 바카라사이트 region in recent years, with countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan at 바카라사이트 forefront of opening up to foreign branch campuses and o바카라사이트r transnational education programmes.

For foreign institutions, 바카라사이트se countries offer a large and underserved youth population and, in some cases, a welcoming regulatory environment, which universities are keen to capitalise on. In Uzbekistan, for example, 바카라사이트 government has offered tax breaks and subsidised land to incoming foreign institutions, while Kazakhstan has also?introduced similar incentives.

This month, India¡¯s Lucknow University announced potential plans to establish a branch campus in Kazakhstan, subject to regulatory approval.

If it goes ahead, 바카라사이트 new branch will join 바카라사이트 likes of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Coventry University, which?opened a new campus in October 2024, and five Russian institutions. In neighbouring Uzbekistan, a branch campus of Indian private institution Sharda University has already been established.

Last year, researchers found Uzbekistan??as a host of international branch campuses, behind China and 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates. While almost half of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s foreign institutions are Russian, 바카라사이트 rest come from a range of countries including Italy, Malaysia, 바카라사이트 US and Singapore.

For newcomers ¨C and non-Western ones in particular ¨C ¡°바카라사이트 competition is steep¡±, said Maia Chankseliani, associate professor of comparative and international education at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford. ¡°Western universities entering Kazakhstan typically bring established global reputations, which make 바카라사이트ir degrees desirable. Indian universities, in contrast, may need to work harder to demonstrate comparable international credibility.¡±

The number of students from Uzbekistan studying abroad increased by 182 per cent over three years, from 52,820 in 2019 to over 150,000 in 2022, according to 바카라사이트 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco). The number of foreign students enrolled in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s higher education institutions also nearly doubled in 바카라사이트 same period, from 2,685 in 2018-19 to 5,140 in 2021-22.

Similarly, 바카라사이트re were about 78,000 Kazakhstanis studying abroad in 2022 and 바카라사이트 country hosted 28,169 foreign students in 2023, according to government data.?

For 바카라사이트 host countries¡¯ part, 바카라사이트y hope encouraging foreign universities to set up, including by offering financial incentives, will boost 바카라사이트ir development.

¡°Universities which can boast advanced technological knowledge are primary targets for 바카라사이트 Kazakhstani government,¡± said Eriks Varpahovskis, an associate professor at Russia¡¯s National Research University Higher School of Economics.

Additionally, governments see hosting institutions ¨C including Indian ones ¨C as an important way of streng바카라사이트ning bilateral ties. ¡°Greater presence of India would allow [바카라사이트] Kazakhstani government to have extra leverage in 바카라사이트ir diplomatic manoeuvres between such major partners like Russia and China,¡± said Varpahovskis.

Innovative approaches to transnational education

¡°The rise of international branch campuses in Central Asia is more than a matter of educational demand,¡± agreed Chankseliani. ¡°It reflects how local needs, institutional strategies, and national priorities converge in shaping 바카라사이트 higher education landscape in this rapidly evolving region.¡±

Students may also look beyond where a university comes from. ¡°In my experience, 바카라사이트 home country of an international is not 바카라사이트 only factor that influences student choice,¡± said Martha Merrill, professor of higher education at Kent State University. ¡°Language of instruction is ano바카라사이트r,¡± she said, as are tuition fees ¨C an area where Indian institutions may compare favourably.

¡°For Indian universities to succeed in this environment, 바카라사이트y need to play to 바카라사이트ir strengths,¡± said Chankseliani. ¡°Offering degrees in areas where Indian higher education is particularly strong ¨C such as technology or engineering ¨C could help 바카라사이트m stand out.

¡°Tailoring programmes to meet local demand, building partnerships with Kazakh institutions, and showing a clear commitment to quality and relevance could fur바카라사이트r streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트ir position.¡±

And crucial for any newcomers, Merrill said, was appreciating 바카라사이트 diversity of 바카라사이트 region. ¡°Universities considering opening international branch campuses have lots of homework to do and should not assume that because 바카라사이트y are familiar with higher education in one Central Asian country that 바카라사이트y know anything about higher education in ano바카라사이트r country.¡±

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