Page 32 - EW September 2025 Final

Expert Comment

Producing internationally

minded graduates

DR. CHETAN SINGAI

HE NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY (NEP) 2020 Today, internationalisation extends far
positions internationalisation of higher education beyond student exchanges: it involves
as a key reform. It advocates establishment of
Tforeign university campuses in India, promotion embedding international perspectives
of student and faculty mobility, expansion of joint degree into teaching, research, and institutional
programmes, and fostering international research collabo-
rations to transform India into a competitive, globally con- strategy in domestic HEIs
nected education hub for learning and innovation.
Five years since implementation of NEP 2020, the be- to develop intercultural competence and comparative per-
ginnings of globalisation can be seen in the Indian higher spectives, while research must embrace cross-border col-
education sector. Vocabulary once reserved for academia is laborations and funding partnerships. The real test is in
now being used in conversations between higher education producing globally minded graduates who can thrive in
leaders, policymakers and students. an interconnected world. Internationalisation is as much
The huge annual outflow of students compared to a dull about mindset as mobility — about reimagining higher edu-
inflow has been a pain area for India’s policymakers, keen cation as a shared, interconnected project.
to establish India not merely as a supplier of students to At the same time, outward reach is not without risks.
foreign universities but also as a magnetic pole to attract Internationalisation can reinforce inequalities by privileg-
the brightest minds of the world. Lately, we are witness- ing students who can afford mobility programmes or by
ing higher education institutions (HEIs) from around the entrenching English as the dominant academic language at
world setting up campuses in India even as Indian HEIs are the expense of regional languages and perspectives. There
multiplying dual degree programmes and academic credit is also the danger of academic neo-colonialism, with knowl-
exchanges with foreign HEIs to deliver quality tertiary edu- edge flowing disproportionately from North to South, mar-
cation. ginalising local voices. If India is to avoid these pitfalls, it
In 2024, Deakin University, Australia became the first must balance openness with equity, ensuring diverse voices
foreign HEI to establish a campus in GIFT City, Gujarat. It shape the global exchange of ideas.
has been followed by the University of Southampton (UK) or policymakers, the challenge lies less in designing new
which inaugurates its first Indian campus in Gurugram, Fpolicies and more in enforcing ones already in place.
Haryana, this month. Newcastle University and the Uni- NEP 2020 provides a clear roadmap, but effective imple-
versity of Surrey are preparing to follow suit. Foreign HEIs mentation is still lagging. Infrastructure must keep pace
have realised that merely attracting Indian students to their with ambition, providing modern laboratories, student hos-
expensive campuses abroad is becoming unviable. Estab- tels and well-equipped campuses. Regulatory frameworks
lishing physical campuses in India allows them to deliver for partnerships and faculty recruitment must align with
more affordable quality education closer to where demand international academic calendars rather than domestic bu-
is rapidly growing. reaucratic timetables. Sustained public and private invest-
This global turn marks a structural re-orientation of ment, strong institutional leadership, and rigorous quality
higher education. Internationalisation today extends far assurance is vital if India is to establish itself as a true global
beyond student exchanges: it involves embedding inter- education hub rather than remain a country that exports
national perspectives into teaching, research, and institu- talent overseas.
tional strategy in domestic HEIs. Knowledge creation and The potential is undeniable. With its low-cost base, Eng-
application now transcend borders, necessitating deeper lish-speaking environment, and demographic advantage,
engagement. India is uniquely placed to attract students and researchers
In the circumstances, Indian HEIs must adapt to achieve from around the world, especially from developing coun-
NEP 2020’s goal of internationalisation. Outbound student tries. If this is combined with expanded research networks,
mobility is rising, but India’s strongest pull factors are af- active global marketing, and consistent policy implementa-
fordable tuition fees and English as medium of instruction. tion, the balance could shift quickly in India’s favour.
Elite research institutions in the country already boast glob- The next decade will be decisive. Whether India can
al linkages and world-class infrastructure, while a rising implement the ambitions of NEP 2020 will determine if it
number of domestic universities are contracting long-term emerges as a genuine international education hub or con-
MoUs with overseas partners. tinues to remain primarily a supplier of talent to the rest
Yet success will not be measured only by the number of the world.
of foreign students enroling in Indian HEIs. True interna-
tionalisation will be reflected in the quality of graduates (Prof. (Dr.) Chetan Singai is Dean, School of Law, Governance and Public
certified and knowledge systems nurtured. Curricula need Policy at Chanakya University, Bengaluru)

32 EDUCATIONWORLD SEPTEMBER 2025