Context:

Recently, NITI Aayog proposed a comprehensive roadmap for the internationalisation of higher education in India. The report, titled “Internationalisation of Higher Education in India: Prospects, Potential, and Policy Recommendations”, highlights India’s limited global footprint in higher education and recommends structural, financial, and regulatory reforms aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.

Key Concerns in Higher Education:

The report highlights a stark inbound–outbound imbalance in student mobility:

• • In 2024, for every one international student studying in India, 28 Indian students went abroad for higher education.
  • As of 2022, India hosted only around 47,000 international students, far below major global education hubs.

This imbalance has resulted in:

• • Brain drain
  • Loss of foreign exchange
  • Weak global academic influence

Future Vision:

Using forecasting models, NITI Aayog estimates that by 2047, India could host 7.89 lakh to 11 lakh international students.

Internationalisation is viewed as critical for:

• • Academic excellence
  • Research collaboration
  • Soft power projection
  • Knowledge-driven economic growth

Major Policy Recommendations by NITI Aayog:

Bharat Vidya Kosh – National Research Fund

• • • Proposal to establish a USD 10 billion research sovereign wealth fund.
    • Funding structure:
      • 50% from the Indian diaspora and philanthropy
      • 50% matching contribution from the Central Government
    • Objectives:
      • Support cutting-edge research
      • Enhance the global competitiveness of Indian universities

Vishwa Bandhu Scholarships and Fellowships

• • • Vishwa Bandhu Scholarship:
      • To attract international students to Indian institutions.
    • Vishwa Bandhu Fellowship:
      • To attract foreign faculty and global research talent.
    • Aims:
      • Improve campus diversity
      • Promote global academic exchange
      • Reverse academic isolation

Erasmus+-like Academic Mobility Programme

• • • Proposal for an India-led international academic mobility programme, modelled on the EU’s Erasmus+.
    • Focus areas include:
      • Student exchange
      • Joint degree programmes
      • Credit transfer mechanisms
      • Collaborative research initiatives

Regulatory and Institutional Reforms

• • • Rationalisation of regulations to enable:
      • Foreign universities to establish campuses in India
      • Joint and dual degree programmes
    • These reforms complement:
      • The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025
      • The proposed Standards Council (Manak Parishad) to develop non-binding internationalisation frameworks

Curriculum, Rankings, and Branding

• • • Curriculum modernisation aligned with global academic standards.
    • Expansion of NIRF ranking parameters to include:
      • International faculty
      • Foreign students
      • Global research collaborations
    • Strengthened branding, communication, and outreach strategies to position India as a preferred global study destination.

Significance of the Recommendations:

Educational Impact

• • • Enhances quality, diversity, and global relevance of Indian higher education.
    • Encourages interdisciplinary learning and research-led institutions.

Economic and Strategic Impact

• • • Generates foreign exchange earnings.
    • Strengthens the knowledge economy and innovation ecosystem.
    • Enhances India’s soft power and educational diplomacy.

Alignment with NEP 2020

• • • Advances NEP objectives of:
      • Global competitiveness
      • Multidisciplinary education
      • Research-driven universities

Conclusion:

NITI Aayog’s roadmap represents a strategic shift from India being a net exporter of students to emerging as a global education destination. By integrating innovative funding mechanisms, regulatory reforms, and international collaboration, the proposal lays a robust foundation for achieving the vision of NEP 2020 and positioning India as a global knowledge powerhouse by 2047.