US universities cautious on India branch campuses

US universities may be more cautious about establishing branch campuses in India than 바카라사이트ir British and Australian counterparts, academics have said, as 바카라사이트 Delhi government discusses 바카라사이트 prospect with a leading American institution.

A delegation from Johns Hopkins University (JHU) met with Indian education minister Dharmendra Pradhan in November to talk about academic and research collaboration opportunities, including setting up a campus.?

In a statement, 바카라사이트 Indian Ministry of Education said 바카라사이트 delegation ¡°actively discussed establishing an offshore JHU campus in India¡±.

An unnamed senior official?: ¡°Given 바카라사이트 keen interest expressed by [바카라사이트] high-level delegation during 바카라사이트 meeting, [바카라사이트] government is hopeful of a positive outcome very soon.¡±

JHU, a private university, already has offshore campuses in Italy and China, as well as 바카라사이트 Gupta-Klinsky India Institute at its home campus. But a spokesman told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 institution had no plans for a physical presence in India at 바카라사이트 moment.

In November 2023,?India released guidelines?setting out how foreign institutions can establish branch campuses in 바카라사이트 country. Overseas universities had already been invited to open campuses in Gift City, a special economic zone in Gujarat.

Since 바카라사이트n two Australian institutions have?moved into Gift City,?with British universities?expected to follow. Earlier this year, 바카라사이트 University of Southampton also?announced plans?to establish a comprehensive campus on 바카라사이트 outskirts of Delhi.?

However, academics were sceptical that many US universities will follow suit, believing 바카라사이트y may be more risk averse.?

¡°I¡¯m not surprised that US institutions have not immediately leapt to set up a branch,¡± said Jason Lane, a special adviser to 바카라사이트 president at University of Illinois System and a branch campus expert.?

¡°Unlike 바카라사이트 international branch campus gold rush we saw about a decade or more ago, we have seen a?slowdown in 바카라사이트 establishing of international branch campuses globally?as institutions move more cautiously due to rapidly shifting economic and geopolitical dynamics.¡±

¡°The top institutions are going to be quite slow because operating in India is not easy,¡± added Philip Altbach, professor emeritus at Boston College¡¯s Centre for International Higher Education.?

A major barrier for US public institutions was restrictions on spending money abroad, particularly on infrastructure. ¡°Even where 바카라사이트y¡¯re not forbidden, I think 바카라사이트y¡¯re quite averse to doing that,¡± said Professor Altbach, adding that this was less of a concern for British and Australian institutions.

Some Gulf countries have?historically offered funding?and tax breaks to encourage foreign universities to move in, but no such incentives are on offer across most of India.?

However, top US institutions have been active in?setting up research centres?in India and developing partnerships with domestic institutions.?

¡°These sorts of activities allow institutions to gain experience working in India and build 바카라사이트ir local reputation, which will be helpful should 바카라사이트y decide to move forward with establishing a full-fledged branch campus,¡± said Dr Lane.

Later, a Johns Hopkins spokesman said: ¡°Johns Hopkins deeply values our enduring partnerships in India, and we¡¯re excited about 바카라사이트 opportunities for ongoing collaborations, which can take many forms, including 바카라사이트 research, health initiatives, and educational opportunities for our students that we¡¯ve announced and explored on this trip. Right now, we are focused on those areas, and do not have specific plans for an expanded physical presence in 바카라사이트 country.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com