Page 63 - EW January 2025

plans to establish a comprehensive campus on the outskirts
of Delhi.
However, academics were sceptical that US universities
will follow suit, believing they may be more risk-averse.
“I’m not surprised that US institutions have not immedi-
ately leapt to set up a branch,” says Jason Lane, a special
adviser to the president at University of Illinois System and
a branch campus expert. “Unlike the international branch
campus gold rush we saw about a decade or more ago, we
have seen a slowdown in the establishing of international
branch campuses globally as institutions move more cau-
tiously due to rapidly shifting economic and geopolitical
dynamics.”
“The top institutions are going to be quite slow because
operating in India is not easy,” adds Philip Altbach, profes-
sor emeritus at Boston College’s Centre for International English learning class in China: waning enthusiasm
Higher Education. A major barrier for US public institu-
tions is restrictions on spending money abroad, particu- tries and regions in terms of English proficiency. Just four
larly on infrastructure. “Even where they’re not forbidden, I years ago, it was ranked #38 out of 100. Over that time, its
think they’re quite averse to doing that,” says Prof. Altbach, rating has slipped from “moderate” to “low” proficiency.
adding that this is less of a concern for British and Austra- Some in China question the accuracy of the EF index. But
lian institutions. others note that this apparent trend is happening when
Some Gulf countries have historically offered funding China is also growing more insular.
and tax breaks to encourage foreign universities to move During the Covid-19 pandemic, for example, China shut
in, but no such incentives are on offer across most of India. its borders. Officials and businessmen, let alone ordinary
However, top US institutions have been active in setting citizens, made few trips abroad. Long after the rest of the
up research centres in India and developing partnerships world began opening up, China remained closed. At the
with domestic institutions. “These sorts of activities allow same time, China’s relations with the world’s biggest Eng-
institutions to gain experience working in India and build lish-speaking countries soured. Trade wars and diplomatic
their local reputation, which will be helpful should they de- tiffs strained its ties with America, Australia, Britain and
cide to move forward with establishing a full-fledged branch Canada.
campus,” says Dr. Lane. The mood is such that legislators and school administra-
Meanwhile a Johns Hopkins spokesman says: “Johns tors have tried to limit the amount of time devoted to the
Hopkins deeply values our enduring partnerships in In- study of English, and to reduce the weight given to it in
dia, and we’re excited about the opportunities for ongoing China’s all-important university-entrance exams. In 2022,
collaborations, which can take many forms, including the a lawmaker proposed de-emphasising the language in or-
research, health initiatives, and educational opportunities der to boost the teaching of traditional Chinese subjects.
for our students that we’ve announced and explored on this The education ministry demurred. But a professor at one
trip. Right now, we are focused on these areas, and do not of China’s elite universities says many students consider
have specific plans for an expanded physical presence in English less important than it used to be and are less inter-
the country.” ested in learning it.
As China’s economy slows, people have become more
CHINA cautious and inward-looking. Today, fewer Chinese are
English lingo disinterest travelling abroad than before the pandemic. Young people
are less keen on jobs requiring English, choosing instead to
IN PREPARATION FOR THE SUMMER Olympics pursue dull but secure work in the public sector.
of 2008, the authorities in Beijing, the host city Then there are translation apps, which are improving
and China’s capital, launched a campaign to teach at a rapid pace and becoming ubiquitous. The tools may
English to residents likely to come in contact with foreign be having an effect outside China, too. The EF rankings
visitors. Police, transit workers and hotel staff were among show that tech-savvy Japan and South Korea have also been
those targeted. One aim was to have 80 percent of taxi driv- losing ground when it comes to English proficiency. Why
ers achieve a basic level of competency. spend time learning a new language when your phone is
But enthusiasm for learning English has waned in recent already fluent in it?
years. According to an EF Education First, an international (Excerpted and adapted from The Economist and Times
language-training firm, China ranks #91 among 116 coun- Higher Education)

JANUARY 2025 EDUCATIONWORLD 63