Foreign universities setting up campuses in India is a practical move that can improve access to higher education and reduce the outflow of Indian students seeking education abroad. While regulatory and administrative issues must be resolved, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced its intention to attract foreign higher education institutions to India by providing special dispensation regarding regulatory, governance, and content norms. However, international universities will need time to adjust to India's regulations and establish a similar ecosystem as offered on their native campus. In this blog post, we will explore why foreign universities would want to come to India and how they would launch their campuses in India.
Many top-ranking universities are for-profit entities that are very careful of their branding and perception, built over long periods through the evolution of organisational and research culture. Therefore, the concern is why a reputable university would want to set up a campus in India.
Based on the approval of a 'Letter of Intent,' the foreign higher education institution (FHEI) is expected to begin establishing its Indian campus and building infrastructure within two years. FHEIs will initially be granted permission to set up campuses for ten years, after which the renewal will be subjected to the fulfilment of requisite conditions of the UGC.
Foreign universities setting up campuses in India is a practical move that can improve access to higher education, as well as reduce the outflow of Indian students seeking education abroad. While there are regulatory and administrative issues to be resolved, the proposed models for establishing satellite campuses in India offer feasible and immediate options for foreign institutions. Foreign universities could be attracted to India for various reasons, such as establishing a foothold in India's large education market, attracting Indian students who are currently going abroad to study, exploring opportunities for collaboration and joint research with Indian institutions, and offering Indian students a global education that they might not otherwise have access to.
