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Latest News |
| 16th
March 2010 / Times of India / Bangalore Edition |
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Foreign universities can now set up
campuses in India
Will Shake Up Education Sector
Won’t Carry Yoke Of Reservation
New Delhi: India just took a big step for dramatically
enhancing the profile of higher education. The Union cabinet
on Monday cleared the Foreign Educational Institutions
(Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill,
which aims to allow foreign universities to set up campuses
in India.
The Bill, adopted without changes, is expected to be introduced
in Parliament after the recess of the budget session.
If cleared, this would be widening the definition of FDI
in higher education and is expected to not only shake
up the market but will also throw up exciting possibilities
for top Indian teachers. HRD minister Kapil Sibal said
the Bill would lead to a ‘larger revolution than
even in the telecom sector’. While the Bill will
be opposed by the Left, it shouldn’t face any serious
obstacle in Parliament because the BJP is also in favour
of the move.
Once the Bill is cleared, some of the top foreign universities
are expected to set up campuses in India. The Atlanta-based
Georgia Tech University has bought 250 acres in Hyderabad.
Although Yale University is interested in having a presence
in India, and welcomed the cabinet clearance, its assistant
secretary George Joseph said there are no plans as of
now to set up a campus here.
While the foreign universities will follow Indian laws,
they will not have to give quota in admission to SC/ST/OBC
students. The Bill treats them as private varsities, which
are free of quota-based admissions. Foreign varsities
will have freedom to fix fees and decide admission process.
World's Best At Your Doorstep?
No caste quotas in Indian campuses of foreign univs, will
be free to set fees and decide admission process
Foreign univs will have to deposit Rs 50cr as corpus fund
to set up campus
Profits from educational activities can’t be taken
out of India
Top Dollar For Teachers
Teachers in India's leading institutes will be in demand,
likely to see surge in salaries At $1547 (2008 PPP), India
has among lowest average salaries for academics, compared
to Saudi Arabia's 6611, Canada's 6548 and US's 5816
Waiting in Wings
Ready to invest in India
- Imperial College (UK)
- Duke College (UK)
- Georgia Tech (US)
- Schulich School of Business (Canada) (York University)
Varsities can’t squirrel away profit, says
govt
New Delhi: The Union cabinet on Monday cleared the Foreign
Educational Institutions Bill, which aims at allowing
foreign universities to set up campuses in India.
The Bill makes it mandatory for the foreign universities
to publish prospectus. Also, the Bill disallows foreign
educational providers from repatriating profit made from
Indian campuses through education.
With foreign direct investment in higher education already
allowed since 2002, the Bill stipulates that any foreign
university interested in setting up a campus in India
will have to deposit a corpus of Rs 50 crore with the
body that will register them. The registering body will
be the University Grants Commission.
The Bill promises time-bound registration to foreign universities,
although they will have to go through a series of registrations
at various levels. The registering body, after going through
the application, will advise the government whether the
foreign university should be allowed or not.
Asked what happens in case a foreign education provider
sets up a campus in collaboration with private Indian
university, an HRD ministry source said: “It is
the foreign education provider who will have to come for
the registration with details of collaboration.’’
Sibal was quick to welcome the cabinet approval. He said:
“This is a milestone which will enhance choices,
increase competition and benchmark quality. A larger revolution
than even in the telecom sector awaits us.’’ |
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