Do we need foreign universities?
The Union Cabinet has approved the Foreign Educational Institution (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill, 2010 which is to be tabled before the Parliament. The exact details/provisions are not known. Arguments generally given in favour of foreign universities is that the best universities of the West will start quality programmes in higher education in the emerging areas in India. We already have different types of universities and university level institutions; Central Universities, state universities, private universities, deemed universities and a number of institutions which are collaborating with western universities and giving a degree of foreign universities. In addition, we also have institutions of eminence like NITs, IITs, IIMs, IIScRs, IISc and so on which are providing opportunities for excellent education and research. To the existing scenario, the Government would like to add foreign universities. In what way will the addition of foreign universities enhance the quality of higher education and in what way will it contribute to economic well-being of the country are seminal questions.
As it is, there is a craze for foreign degree and some institutions cash on it: an institution that collaborates with a foreign institution normally charges heavily in the range of Rs 10 to 12 lakh a year for a degree like MBA. This collaboration means a few teachers from abroad give one or two courses to an Indian institution and the institution is not bound by any regulations of higher education in the country. If by an Act of Parliament, an Indian institution in collaboration with a foreign university is permitted to give foreign degree it could encourage the prevalent practice.If, independently, a foreign university of repute establishes a campus in India, certainly it would attract people who can afford, denying the opportunity to the less fortunate people. Another important factor cannot be ignored; learning in a foreign country in their university has a definite advantage in terms of ambience, cultural environment and provides an international mix to the student as students from different countries will be studying in the same institution. Whereas, when a foreign university sets up a campus in India, it will be more of a subsidiary and naturally of a lower standing. In what way will it be different from our best institutions is not clear.
If special curriculum were to be evolved and research programmes developed keeping the Indian context in the picture, in addition to creating knowledge for its own sake, then they add significance. Most likely this would not happen. It is unlikely that many eminent academicians of the West will come to India to teach and do research but, many good ones already working in the Indian institutions would be attracted to these institutions because of prestige and higher salary. This will end up in making our good institutions mediocre. It may not be out of place to mention that the universities in this country in the early era suffered because the country started new institutions meant for excellence rather than raising the existing institutions to excellence. The result was even the best universities lost their good academicians to the new institutions and became second rate. This may happen again if foreign universities do establish their campuses here.
It is not clear whether foreign universities will be judged by the same yardstick or an international yardstick will be evolved to evaluate both the Indian and foreign institutions. Quite often the employment market by itself does not determine quality.
Quality is essentially determined by the knowledge that the higher education and research institutions impart both in terms of knowledge per se and also the training provided to its students. Creation of knowledge takes place mainly in higher education institutions. This knowledge later gets converted to commodity or technology for the market place. From that point of view, creation of knowledge may not become a prime factor for the foreign universities. They are more likely to treat this as a financial endeavour. This can be seen in our industries and commercial activities that are now responsible for growth in GDP Real knowledge contribution on a global scale comes essentially from foreign countries and a few of our eminent institutions, and our GDP growth is more due to our service industries using knowledge growth of the developed countries and not due to original contribution.
Given this background, it is possible that we learn more about how to do better in the arena of higher education if the foreign universities Bill is put to public debate and taken up at a later stage with relevant modifications. That way the country would be benefited rather than be harmed.
(The writer is former Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore University and Member of UGC. Presently, he is Vice-Chairman of Karnataka State Council for Higher Education.)
“Entry of foreign varsities will make education more of a trade; many bogus universities will spring up and also wean away a good number of our bright students”
- Dr B Ekbal, ex-VC, Kerala University.
“In the face of many legislative problems, foreign universities of repute will think twice before coming to India”
- Prof (Dr) M Shantharam Shetty,
VC, Nitte University.
“At least 20 per cent of students should be given merit seats in foreign universities. No meritorious student should be denied seat simply because of lack of money”
- Prof H S Ballal,
Pro Chancellor, Manipal University.
Foreign Educational Institution (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill, 2010
* The Bill to be introduced in Parliament next month is called Foreign Educational Institution (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill, 2010.
* Likely to be referred to Parliamentary standing committee for further study as the BJP, Left parties are unhappy with the provisions of draft Bill.
* Each institute will have to be registered with the University Grants Commission or any regulatory body in place at the time of registration; Grant of approval is time bound.
* A foreign university aspiring to set up campus in India will have to deposit Rs 50 crore as corpus fund and cannot take back the surplus income generated from education activities here as provisions of Section 25 of the Companies Act will be invoked.
* The government can reject an application if the venture is a threat to national security.
* Foreign education providers may involve in other activities like consultancy and repatriate the profits.
* Quota laws will not be applicable to foreign universities.