Finally, India Approves Foreign University Proposal
India's cabinet approved a proposal on Monday to allow foreign universities to set up branches here, potentially opening a huge market to international educational institutions.
The cabinet plans to introduce the Foreign Education Providers (Regulatory) Bill in parliament next month. The bill would then have to be passed by parliament before becoming law.
About 160,000 students a year leave India to study abroad, according to the National Knowledge Commission, an advisory group to the prime minister. More than 100 foreign educational institutions offer programs in India, but most are vocational or technical and run for only a few weeks or months.
Universities around the world have been trying for years to find ways to expand into India's untapped education market. Analysts say the bill could help accelerate India's economic growth, which has been powered in part by its best-educated programmers, engineers and managers.
According to the bill, foreign colleges and universities will be granted "deemed" university status, which will enable them to also offer degree courses in India.
Duke University's Fuqua School of Business—which has a tie-up with the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, for a corporate program—plans to expand its reach in India. Any relaxing of restrictions that prevent foreign institutions from running full-fledged graduate-degree programs in the country, will aid that process, says Jaivir Singh, adviser to Duke University in India. "There is a huge base of students from India who travel abroad and also a large number that are interested in coming to India. We are trying to gain access to all those students."
If the foreign universities bill becomes law, Duke University would like to set foot in India by establishing its own business school. "If we have the liberty to run our own programs locally, we will most likely start with a business school," Mr. Singh says. "To become a truly global manager one has to understand the diversity of India. That in itself is a very important learning curve for us and our students."
This should become a law soon... Who do you think will be the first US school to offer degree courses in India?
