Despite significant policy efforts, India has yet to attract any offshore campuses from leading global universities, including prestigious Ivy League institutions, according to a Parliamentary panel report presented in the Rajya Sabha earlier this week.
The committee, chaired by Congress MP Digvijay Singh, acknowledged growing international interest in establishing campuses in India, driven by the country’s large student population and increasing government support for global collaborations. However, it noted that top-tier universities like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia have not yet made concrete moves to set up campuses in India.
Call for Stronger Efforts from Higher Education Department
“The Committee recommends that the Department of Higher Education intensify its efforts to attract globally reputed institutions to India, ensuring broader access to top-quality education for Indian students,” the report stated.
While foreign universities are showing increasing interest, none of the top-ranked US universities — including New York University or Carnegie Mellon University — have established campuses in the country so far.
Background: UGC’s 2023 Regulations and Progress So Far
In 2023, the University Grants Commission (UGC) introduced the Regulations for Setting up and Operation of Foreign Higher Educational Institution Campuses in India, aimed at paving the way for top foreign universities to enter India.
- The UK’s University of Southampton is currently in the process of launching a campus.
- Australian universities — Deakin University and University of Wollongong — have already established campuses in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).
- Queen’s University Belfast and Coventry University have also received approvals to set up in GIFT City.
However, no US-based institution has taken steps to establish a physical presence in India yet.
India’s Push for Internationalisation
The panel also reviewed India’s efforts to globalise its higher education system:
- The Study in India (SII) initiative, launched in 2018, aims to attract international students by promoting India’s higher education globally.
- The Department of Higher Education is currently targeting countries across South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa to boost student enrolment.
As part of this effort:
- Institutions can now reserve up to 25% of seats as supernumerary for foreign students.
- Guidelines have been issued to set up international affairs offices and alumni connect cells at Indian universities.
Global Research Collaborations Underway
To foster joint academic initiatives, a scheme supporting collaborative research between Indian and foreign universities is already in place. So far:
- 28 countries — including the US, UK, Germany, Australia, and France — are part of the program.
- 787 joint research proposals have been approved in critical areas like:
- Emerging technologies
- Energy and sustainability
- Food security
- Healthcare
- Industry and innovation
While the groundwork for internationalisation has been laid, the panel emphasizes that securing campuses from globally leading institutions remains a key milestone yet to be achieved. It calls for renewed focus and strategic engagement to bring the world’s best educational resources to Indian shores.
