NITI Aayog proposes $10-bn research fund, scholarships to ‘globalise’ higher education, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• NITI Aayog proposes policy changes to globalize higher education in India.
• Recommendations include Vishwa Bandhu scholarships/fellowships to attract foreign students and faculty.
• Report suggests easing regulations to allow more international campuses in India.
• A $10 billion Bharat Vidya Kosh fund is proposed for research, with 50% from diaspora and philanthropy.
• The goal is to increase inbound international students to make India a global education hub.
• In 2024, 28 Indian students went abroad for every one international student coming to India.
• Report estimates India could host 7.89 lakh to 11 lakh international students by 2047.

Detailed Insights:

• The NITI Aayog report recommends 22 policy interventions to address the imbalance in student mobility.
• The report suggests an Erasmus+-like programme, updated curricula, and expanded NIRF ranking criteria.
• The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, aims to overhaul higher education regulations.
• The proposed Standards Council (Manak Parishad) will design frameworks for internationalization.
• The report focuses on strategy, regulation, branding, communications, curriculum, and outreach.
• As of 2022, India hosted approximately 47,000 international students.
• The Bharat Vidya Kosh aims to boost research with funding from diaspora, philanthropy, and the Centre.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Internationalization of Higher Education: Integrating a global dimension into higher education.
• NIRF Rankings: National Institutional Ranking Framework used to rank educational institutions.
• Erasmus+: EU's programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe.