India’s higher education sector is on the cusp of significant change. The recent policy decision to allow globally reputed foreign universities to establish campuses in India is being welcomed as a bold step towards academic globalization. It resonates with India’s aspiration to become a knowledge superpower and aligns with the internationalization agenda of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
However, every bold move deserves deep reflection. As we open the gates to global campuses, we must not lose sight of our foundational values: equity, autonomy, and academic sovereignty. The real question is not whether we should invite foreign universities—but how we welcome them, and more importantly, on what terms.
Global Partnerships: Aspirations and Asymmetries
India has the world’s second-largest higher education system, with over 1,200 universities and 40 million students. Our universities—public, private, central, and regional—are as diverse as our society, carrying the dual burden of access and excellence. At the same time, India is also the world’s leading contributor to international student mobility, with over 750,000 students studying abroad.
It is within this context that foreign universities are now being invited to establish physical campuses in India. The logic seems clear: offer global education at home, reduce the brain drain, and enhance domestic academic standards.
But intentions alone do not shape outcomes. The structure of the policy – how it is designed, who it benefits, and how it aligns with national priorities—will determine whether this becomes a story of partnership or one of quiet displacement.
The Risk of Parallel Systems
Initial reports suggest that foreign institutions will be granted considerable autonomy—over curriculum, fee structures, admission policies, and faculty appointments. They may be exempt from reservation mandates, allowed to operate on a for-profit basis, and permitted to repatriate surplus funds.
Indian institutions, regardless of their public service history or global partnerships, continue to operate under far more constrained frameworks:
- Public universities remain resource-starved and administratively constrained.
- Private and deemed institutions must function under strict not-for-profit regulations and compliance regimes.
- Curriculum reform, foreign collaboration, and international recruitment remain tightly monitored.
This regulatory asymmetry creates a two-speed education ecosystem—one empowered, the other restricted—not on merit, but on origin.
Not a Replacement for the Global Experience
It is also important to confront an emerging misconception: that the presence of foreign campuses in India will stem the tide of outbound students. This assumption overlooks a fundamental truth:
“If we believe that students will stop going abroad simply because foreign universities open campuses in India, we are mistaken. A degree can be replicated anywhere, but the true value of international education lies in immersion, exposure, and the personal transformation that comes from living in another culture. These cannot be substituted by localized, commercially-oriented campuses operating within the gated confines of India’s GIFT cities or private tech parks.”
Students who go abroad do so not just for content but for context—for networks, for pluralism, for discomfort that breeds growth. That richness cannot be recreated in a classroom detached from global society, however glossy its affiliation may be
The Way Forward: Equity and Empowerment
The path forward must not be exclusionary—but equitable. India’s higher education system does not need rescuing; it needs reimagining.
Let foreign universities collaborate—deeply and respectfully. Let them partner with Indian institutions in research, faculty development, and joint degrees. Let them invest in our regions, not just our metros. Let them enrich our learning models, not replicate their existing ones
But let us also ensure that Indian institutions are empowered with similar freedoms—to innovate, to internationalize, and to grow.
- Grant autonomy to institutions with proven outcomes, irrespective of origin.
- Allow Indian universities the flexibility to design global curricula and attract global talent.
- Ensure that all institutions—foreign or Indian—serve national goals such as inclusion, rural engagement, and affordability.
- Define transparent and merit-based criteria for foreign entry—not just brand appeal.
Conclusion: Sovereignty, Not Suspicion
This is not a call for insularity. India must engage the world—openly, eagerly, and on equal terms. But global engagement must not come at the cost of our own academic dignity.
India’s future as a knowledge leader lies not in outsourcing excellence, but in creating ecosystems where excellence thrives—locally, collaboratively, and ethically.
Let us welcome the world into India. But let us also ensure that India’s own universities are not left standing outside the door.
By: Kunwar Shekhar Vijendra: Co-founder & Chancellor, Shobhit University | Chairman, ASSOCHAM National Education Council | Mentor CEGR | Philanthropist | Agriculturist | Policy Influencer | Public Speaker | Gandhian | Seeker
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