SYLLABUS:

GS-2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context: Recently, NITI Aayog launched a comprehensive policy report ‘Internationalisation of Higher Education in India: Prospects, Potential, and Policy Recommendations’.

More on the News

• The report, an outcome of a collaborative endeavour between NITI Aayog and an IIT Madras led consortium of knowledge partners, is a pioneering publication in the Global South.

• The report emphasises the concept of “internationalisation at home” as envisaged under NEP 2020.

• Internationalisation at Home (IaH) is a strategic vision to provide global exposure and intercultural competencies to the majority of Indian students who do not travel abroad.

• It examines approaches to internationalisation at the global, national, and institutional levels, along with temporal trends in academic mobility over the last 20 years. 

Key Highlights of the Report

• The report draws on extensive qualitative and quantitative analysis, including responses from 160 Indian HEIs across 24 States to a comprehensive survey comprising 100+ questions, and perspectives, ideas, and experiences from 140 national and international participants at a National Workshop organised at IIT Madras. 
• Key Informant Interviews were also conducted with experts from 30 international institutions across 16 countries, providing global perspectives.
• It proposes a target of hosting 1 lakh international students across Central and State Universities by 2030.
• It highlights the role of international collaboration in strengthening doctoral and research programmes.
• The report presents 22 policy recommendations and 76 action pathways.

Key Policy Recommendations 

• Strategy: Develop a comprehensive national strategy for higher education internationalisation aligned with the vision of NEP 2020.
• Curriculum & Culture: Promote global higher education hubs in India through an ecosystem-based and regionally balanced policy approach.
• Communication & Outreach: Streamline visa and administrative processes to enable smooth cross-border movement of students, faculty, and institutions.
• Regulation: Simplify and digitalise regulatory frameworks to attract leading foreign universities to establish campuses in India.
• Finance & Branding: Encourage integrated and co-located international campuses within Indian institutions to ensure long-term sustainability.

Significance of Internationalisation of Higher Education: 

• The report frames internationalisation as both a soft power tool and an economic opportunity for India.
• It can improve the quality of courses and curriculum within Indian universities, have a positive effect in reducing forex outflow, and provide greater opportunities for research partnerships. 
• The report explores opportunities for enhanced student and faculty mobility, greater international academic and research collaborations, and the potential of establishing international branch campuses in India and campuses of Indian public and private universities overseas.
• India can become a talent magnet and attract more students from the Global South to its high-quality programmes in engineering, technology, and management.

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