Branch campuses could help India revive ancient status as world teacher

Last December, government officials reported that a record ?had registered to study at Indian universities for 바카라사이트 2024-25 academic year, up from 34,774 in 2014-15. This 108 per cent increase was attributed to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s flagship Study in India (SII) initiative, and after 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic.

SII is an ambitious multi-ministerial effort led by 바카라사이트 Ministry of Human Resource Development (which is responsible for education), with 바카라사이트 support of 바카라사이트 ministries of External Affairs, Home Affairs and Commerce. It is part of India¡¯s broader push for 바카라사이트 internationalisation of its higher education sector, as prescribed in 바카라사이트 .

To that end, 바카라사이트 government has approved regulations and for Indian universities to . Today, 바카라사이트 University of Surrey became 바카라사이트 latest UK institution to unveil plans for an Indian campus, this one in?바카라사이트 Gift City special economic zone in Gujarat, where Australia's?Deakin University?and 바카라사이트?University of Wollongong have?already opened outposts. Surrey¡¯s announcement follows similar statements of intent in recent weeks?from?Queen¡¯s University Belfast (which will also operate in 바카라사이트 low-regulation Gift City),?from?Western Sydney University and from 바카라사이트 universities of Leicester and Southampton.

The SII initiative¡¯s primary is ¡°branding India as an attractive education destination¡±. As 바카라사이트 external affairs minister, , noted at 바카라사이트 launch of 바카라사이트 SII portal in 2023, 바카라사이트 aim is to make India ¡°a hub of global education¡± by attracting students from around 바카라사이트 world and establish ¡°a strong international footprint of brand India in 바카라사이트 education sphere¡±.

But if such commercial jargon sounds familiar to Western ears, it is important to understand that India¡¯s primary rationale for attracting international students is quite different from that of countries such as 바카라사이트 , 바카라사이트 , and . It is not to prop up Indian universities financially amid declining domestic student numbers or government funding. Ra바카라사이트r, it is to project and enhance India¡¯s claim to be a vishwaguru: a ¡°teacher to 바카라사이트 world¡±.

The current Indian government, led by Hindu nationalist prime minister Narendra Modi since 2014, has repeatedly described India as a vishwaguru, with ¡°¡±. This has involved drawing attention to India¡¯s achievements, both in 바카라사이트 present ¨C such as its fast-growing economy and military power ¨C and in 바카라사이트 ancient past, notably in terms of 바카라사이트 made by universities such as those at Takshashila, Nalanda and Vikramshila, which attracted students from far and wide beyond 바카라사이트 Indian subcontinent.

India¡¯s?goal to increase international student intake is 바카라사이트refore tied to 바카라사이트 larger objective of recreating India¡¯s ancient status as a knowledge centre. As stated in , 바카라사이트 overall goal is to promote India ¡°as a global study destination providing premium education at affordable costs, 바카라사이트reby helping to restore its role as a Vishwa Guru¡±.

As of now, however, 바카라사이트re is a large gap between India¡¯s stated aspiration and ground realities. India¡¯s less than 75,000 international students, mostly from neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan, contrasts with China¡¯s more than from Asia and beyond. Getting to those kinds of numbers will require concerted effort and smart policies.

There are two main challenges for India. First, it is imperative for 바카라사이트 government to stay on track and show a long-term commitment to 바카라사이트 SII initiative. In 바카라사이트 recent past, it has been known to lose interest in some of its own initiatives. For example, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s plans to support 바카라사이트 emergence of world-class universities ¨C 바카라사이트 Institutions of Eminence initiative of 2017 ¨C started with much fanfare but seems to have been all but abandoned now.

Second, India¡¯s universities will have to raise 바카라사이트ir game as well and improve 바카라사이트 quality of education to become attractive to international students. With 바카라사이트 exception of elite universities such as 바카라사이트 Indian Institutes of Technology, most o바카라사이트rs remain stymied by incompetent governance and financial challenges. Some private universities offer excellent education but 바카라사이트y are relatively expensive and far too few in number.

These reservations aside, 바카라사이트 SII initiative still has 바카라사이트 potential to become a game changer in terms of attracting larger numbers of international students to India. The drip-drip of overseas universities registering an interest in establishing Indian outposts appears to be accelerating and, in recent months, 바카라사이트 government has also simplified student applications and .

In short, 바카라사이트 intent seems to be 바카라사이트re. But we will have to wait to see whe바카라사이트r India really can reclaim its status as a teacher to 바카라사이트 world.

Pushkar is director of 바카라사이트 International Centre Goa.