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Education TimesBJ Rao, Vice-Chancellor, University of Hyderabad says, “So far, higher education institutions are operating within geographical boundaries, but they have the potential to offer more. The overseas campus will serve a greater purpose and help the institutions to expand in terms of depth of knowledge, style of teaching and content beyond their borders.
Many institutes in India provide quality education at affordable prices. Rao adds that going abroad on our own or in partnership will help expand the horizon and bandwidth of our brand. Many IITs are receiving requests from Middle-East and South Asian countries to set up their campuses. Indian universities were reluctant to think along these lines.
Though the process is lengthy, IITs are in a better position to set up campuses abroad in a short span of time. Also, they can invite foreign universities to partner with them.
There are many challenges to be addressed. First, Indian universities need to identify the need and challenges in the country where the campus will be set up.
“The committee will prepare schedules as per the requirement of offshore campuses. The legal implications will be considered before deciding whether we will have standalone campuses or be in partnership. One of the major legal hurdles is that some countries have a rule that any revenue earned in the country cannot be taken outside its borders. It will have to be spent within that country itself,” says Rao.
The initiative will help raise the rankings of Indian institutions that are struggling to make a strong presence in the global rankings. In the committee meeting, several IIT directors suggested the need for setting up offshore campuses in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi. Many countries do not have adequate knowledge pool and infrastructure.
“The demographic shift in many prosperous countries will aid in this process, as India has one of the youngest workforce in the world. We stand at an advantage as compared to countries with higher median age,” says Rao.
Yogesh Singh, Vice Chancellor of Delhi University says, “This activity will popularize Indian higher education institutions abroad. If Indian HEI’s offshore campuses are set up overseas, it will also establish linkages of Indian HEIs with major global institutions. It will initiate teacher and student exchange. ,
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