International Branch Campuses could be the game-changer India's education sector needed

Added to that, is the hefty cost of living in the USA, with the most sought-after cities such as NYC and California coming forth as the most expensive locations in the world!

Here's how UGC’s decision is a game changer:

First things first, this move will equip our students to avail world-class opportunities at a much more affordable rate on their own home turf. For instance, NYU’s campus in Abu Dhabi or Northeastern’s London campus come with their unique set of charms and have seen immense popularity. Not only are the costs of living and education lower for students who enrol there, not only do students have complete access to almost all resources that the main campus may supply them with but they can also head to the states for their final degree.

Furthermore, this decision puts the economy of India at a significant advantage; if the country becomes an educational hub, it’s bound to attract talent, businesses, and revenue from across the globe. If global campuses were to be established in India, capable middle-class youth will be able to avail the same level of education at immensely lower costs. This will lead to quicker and more efficient skill development enabling the youth to come to the workplace armed with practical knowledge and hands-on internship experience which is instrumental to the US education system.

From the point of view of a growing economy, we can’t escape the incredibly high demand for a skilled workforce. With a total of 100+ unicorns and counting, our educational processes must also evolve in order to support the same. We understand that as with any new venture, there will be growing pains. But, in the spirit of liberal arts education, we must evolve to embrace the spirit of “jack of all trades”. After all, many questioned the advent of International Baccalaureate (IB), but it has only strengthened our educational system and is now considered just as (if not more) credible a form of education as our own homegrown state and central boards, leading to the incorporation of vocational training and hands-on, computer-based learning in the initial book and paper system. Where we began with merely a handful of IB programs circa 2005, we now have more than 250 flourishing within the country! Similarly, the introduction of global campuses in India might just force already existing private universities to up their game.

There is incredible merit in introducing such bold decisions to usher change, decisions that challenge the current private or public educational metrics and introduce ones that embrace dynamism. Many have wondered if IBCs will actually take away jobs from Indians. On the contrary, since there would be a surge in demand for qualified faculty to teach in such institutions, one can’t help but ponder if this will finally plug the brain drain that has been sapping our economy of talent for generations. If working in conjunction with the best universities isn’t peak motivation to remain in the country, what is?

Although the implementation of such bold moves may take decades, it is to be remembered that all good things take time. And that is enough time for us and the government to seek funding and other external/internal support to bolster the mentorship of students and the morale of faculty members.

Even if a total of twenty universities were to set up shop here, our students could benefit from a plethora of scholarships. Not only that, welcoming foreign universities will also allow us to welcome a global cohort of students, restoring India’s status as a thriving internationally acclaimed educational hub, a status historically bestowed upon us from our Nalanda days!

Lastly, why should we spend our hard-earned money for the lure of an “education abroad” when we can spend the same to bolster our own economy? As is the case with anything, foreign education must be pursued from a critical lens. The pendulum could swing either way. However, the odds are truly in our favour as we look forward to development, advancement and progress in the conventional academic system, with the hope that India soon inches up to join the list of the most sought-after academic destinations in the contemporary world.

This article was originally published by The Economic Times on 6th March 2023