Foreign Universities - Opportunity or Threat?

I think foreign universiies will bring better quality of education .  foreign will produce more employable graduate  in our counrtry as they they would be providing quality of education with industry specific skill sets.Only concern is that these universities bound to cahrge more fee and eventully overall cost of education may go up leading to a state where education may not afforable to indian middle class

Foreign unversities do not seem to be a threat to premier/already reputed institutions in India. Firstly, It could  be actually good to invite them to encourage growth oriented competition among educational institutes. Secondly, Indian academic sector is still not very well co-ordinated with professional sectors though our curriculum content is qualitatively good. I think foreign universities can show the way of setting up the coherence between academics and professional area. Thirdly this would  be helpful in retaining Indian investement in education in the counrty itself by preventing it from flowing overseas too.

Only thing I am not sure that whether the foreign universities will be interested to develop in areas like science and technology or language studies and performing arts here.

How is that any different from the situation right now Prasad?

From our school times we are hearing that India is a developing country, but when we are able to say that India is a develped country. For that their should be good educational facilities like the other countries have. The number of universites or instutions of higher learning should be in all states, so that their will be no need to go to abroad or out of our country to gain higher education. And also young and dynamic people can look forward in a proper manner without any political view too. and the expenses incurred to stay away from our land will minimise and it can be utilised for the infrastructure of our country. so it will  be an oppurtunity if foreign universites come to our country if it is utilised in a proper manner.

It should have been done earlier.We all know that indian universities leaving a few reputed ones are in whimsical state.The regulatory authorities like UGC/AICTE just go to other universities in evening and pack their suitcases full of cash and the authorisation is thus obtained by these universities.Does not these regulatory authorities visit government schools or colleges which have no equipments in their laboratories and no infrastructures?Then by allowing foreign universities there will be competition and competition will make everything at par.And also other things are included like money going out of country through outside going students,the profit from these universities again will be invested in india itself;all these are favourable for developement of our own education system.Also,regulatory authorities wont be having a say in it.so it is a good move to my mind.

The word 'foreign' is somewhat becoming immaterial in this wired world! The digital medium is unifying the world (except places like China). So the entry of 'foreign entities' in to India and 'Indian entities' in to foreign lands is logical. Entry of foreign universities is hence inevitable thanks to globalization.

Now the focus should be on how to assimilate foreign universities in to the Indian education system. These universities should not contribute to a divide between the elite and poor educational entities. Policies should ensure that foreign universities operate bearing the social and cultural situation of India. The entry of foreign universities is more a challenge to the policy making process in education sector. Proper policies should ensure that foreign universities do not create needless controversies, do not operate as educational mercenaries, and by creating competition for Indian educational institutions, an overall benefit should be created for the Indian society.

All in all, the entry of foreign educational institutions in to India is an opportunity to improve educational offerings to students.  But the caveat is the possibility of elitism and money making education. The catchword however, should be co-operative competition. Also you may refer to www.pharmaceuticalshealthcare.blogspot.com

In Education India needs more choices rather than present limited sphere of learning possible. Our Universities especially government controlled ones, have failed to impart education in all subject areas. Many new sciences and technologies are never introduced to our students immediately after their invention/discovery. The score in original research undertaken is dismal.

But we also need to be careful with the foreign universities setting up shop here, they are coming here for profits and may not bring in their leading edge departments immediately. First few years it will be selling their degrees here.

I openly welcome foreign institutions to india by which the amount spent for education in foreign countries will remin with us.

Next in my view is that with students studyin in foreign ininsttitutes in india shall be absorbed by indian companies so the talent atleast some percentage shall remain in india for the growth of country monetarily and technically.

Exactly what i'm saying Varun. Regulated entry of foreign universities into India. And this will help a lot our Indian universities that have the 'Chalta Hai' attitude to pep up and get better.

Speaking purely from a curriculum perspective, we have a very good curriculum in a lot of colleges and universities in India. Problem is the outdated method of teaching which doesn't allow any practical application of the theory to be taught while in college and the way students are encouraged to learn by rote. This needs to change if we are ever to move from support to innovation. Because right now, all we can do very well in India is replicate and try to make better what has already been done. A change in the way we teach and allow application of our purely theory based education system will help India in the long run to take our country where it can be.

I was not talking about the KV schools at all dear Varun. KV schools still have a pretty decent standard of education. i was talking about other Govt schools like the Zilla Parishad schools etc. I dont think KV has ever had an image of meant for the penniless. Dont know where you got that from?

Also, i personally think that all these 'international schools' are only a waste of money and spoil the kids attending it. Very few have come out from them with a balanced head. But when we are talking about foreign universities and varsities, it is a different case. Because fact is the standard of education and quality is tenfold better compared to atleast 85% of Indian Universities and varsities. So them coming into India will act as a rude awakening to start moving towards better quality and education standard instead of taking everything in such a lax manner. I believe this is a very positive thing to happen and will bring up the overall quality of the college and higher education system in our country.

having foreign universities come over (good ones)...gives us an insight into thier research and development , even if only to a certain extent , and can broaden our perspective...

Where i agree to the part that regulation over the universities will be required, i strongly disagree with you saying that private schooling gave govt schools n colleges the image of being for penniless parents. Fact is govt schools and colleges never added any value to our education system. And this whole idea of govt run institutions is for the poor only stems from the attitude of the Indian people who always feel nothing in India is good; but if something has even a remote foreign connection to it, it has to be good (consider how many times we've had people go - yeh watch japan se hai, etc). This is the middle class and upper class people's mindset for a long time now.

Govt schools and colleges were never 'temples of learning'. They have rarely had anything better to give than street politicians. And their pathetic condition is not because of private schools; it is because of corruption at all levels and the unwillingness to change the chalta hai attitude. This is what has always spelt doom for govt. schools and colleges.

If you look at the past 20 yrs of Indian history; nothing has made a more significant change to the our lives than allowing private players into almost all sectors which were controlled closely the govt (and therefore politics) and allowing global players to enter the Indian market for free trade. And we have to agree that our lives have changed for the better (for the most part) post the initiation of these major decisions by the central govt.

I believe this is the case, because as Indians we tend not to care too much for quality, and are pretty complacent about what is acceptable standards (lets face facts people). The 'Chalta Hai' attitude is predominant and the only way to break it is to expose this mindset to global standards. When the finance ministry opened up India for global trade, there was a lot of opposition to it. But fact is today, our standards of manufacturing are much higher compared to what it used to be 20 yrs ago. I believe this is primarily because the 'chalta hai, paisa bachta hai' attitude of the manufacturers was transformed to 'i better pull my socks up'; else they knew they would be vanquished from the market. It was a rude awakening call no doubt, but one without which i believe we would not get the quality of goods we get today from an Indian manufacturer.

I believe the same will be the case with the 85% of Indian universities and colleges which are plagued with nothing better than buildings, politics and an empty outdated shell for an administration. I firmly believe that the advent of Foreign Universities and Varsities into our country will allow for these 85% to pull up their socks; thus allowing for the overall quality of education and the graduates to improve tenfold. Not to mention the added advantage of candidates getting a certificate which might be better recognised in other parts of the world.

Opportunity to acquire degree / diploma from well known university should on no account be denied to Indian aspirants. 

Remember the Sanskrit saying "Vidyadhanam Sarva Dhanal Pradhanam"

Gopi K

The entry of foreign universities is an inevitable part of globalisation in a country well into being a dominant economic force in the world. Embrace it, without compromising core values, and feel free to discard that part of the Western rubbish of economics prevalent in the last 4 or 5 years

I fully agree with the author that we lack work ethic that nurtures excellence in all manifestations.awe manufacure degrees here but do not create or nurture good workmen good ofiicers/beurocrats etc.Let us take a chance.

Krishnamurthy good topic for debating.

I think it is an opportunity. Many students will be benefited from this, because everyone cannot afford studying in abroad. So this will help in making many students dreams come true. And this will also create a competition among the Indian universities  and the standard of education will rise. So according to me it is a opportunity and the government should cooperate to bring good universities to India.

Thanks.....

There is no way that the government or the private sector can successfully build the number of universities and institutions of higher learning to cater to a billion plus people. Foreign universities adopting best practices will bring in healthy competition and force us to pull up our socks. Unless we become an educational superpower, we cannot become an economic superpower. Let us not be afraid of foreign universities. Let us show the world that we can take up any challenge and succeed.