A foreign degree in India.
Sounds different? Yes. If things go right, foreign universities would soon
set up campus in India.
The Union government is expected
to introduce a legislation to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in
education and a Bill is likely to be tabled in the current Parliament session.
'The new initiative would
stop at least 50 per cent of Indian students going abroad', according to
Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath who made the announcement at
the India Economic Summit on 28 November.
The need for the government
to call for FDIs in education is purportedly to save money spent on travelling
to foreign countries and prevent brain drain. Nearly 60 per cent of the
Indian population is aged below 25 and there is a rise in students seeking
admissions to foreign universities.
Also, University Grants Commission
(UGC) has been receiving several complaints from Indian students from abroad
regarding the false claims made by the universities and validity of their
degree.
In recent times, there has
been concern over the quality of education of Indian students at the domestic
level and by opening gates to foreign institutions, it is believed that
the standards could be improved.
Moreover, this plan would
be a wake-up call for Indian universities to compete with foreign ones.
With modern infrastructure facilities and a promise of high quality, the
Indian universities may find the going tough in the days to come. However,
it is still not known on the rules and restrictions (especially with regard
to reservations and entrance tests) for the institutions that may want
to set up shop here.
Academicians from various
fields feel that though it is a welcome move by the government to allow
FDI in education, at the same time, strict guidelines should be framed
to monitor foreign institutions.
By calling for FDI, some
of the world's best universities would come to India and research facilities
here would get a fillip, the academicians added.
In an era of globalisation,
foreign universities coming to India would lead to healthy competition
and reduce the education expenses of students going abroad, says
S Ramachandran, Vice-Chancellor,
University of Madras.
Also, Indian universities
should improve its infrastructure facility to maintain its strength. They
should retain their traditional courses such as Indian music, Sanskrit
and Yoga which have no competition from foreign varsities, the Vice-Chancellor
said.
He also cautioned that by
allowing FDI, 'Indian culture and values would slowly disappear. And we
would be paving way for good talents choosing foreign universities here'.
Some others feel that only
varsities that are highly commercial that may want to come here and set
up shop. 'What is the attraction for a Yale or an Oxford university to
come here? And any way, they are so called because of their location. Can
there be an Oxford in, say, Chennai?'.
Looks like the foreign universities
FDI issue has thrown up more questions than any exam would.
