This paper presents an overview of the contemporary issues and challenges
of Indian higher education, and in particular, looks at ways in which potential
foreign participants can legitimately play a role in the sector. It does not seek to make
a case for increased foreign participation, but presumes it to be a
medium-term outcome of the process of India's integration into the global economy.
The paper presents a brief overview of higher education in India today, followed
by important systemic challenges (access, equity, quality) and argues that
these problems stem from the lack of public investment and a flawed
regulatory structure, resulting in the rapid and unregulated growth of private
provision. It then maps the existing government perspective on foreign and
private participation and attempts to show that there has been an increasing
dissension in the government's view of foreign institutions. This signals a growing
public debate that can be successfully leveraged by potential entrants. The
paper concludes by briefly suggesting that, in the final analysis, meaningful
foreign participation hinges on the regulatory system's ability to successfully balance
two conflicting objectives—building a
world-class educational system, and ensuring that education remains a
non-commercial activity that embodies national values and priorities.
The Indian system of higher education is in a state of decline, primarily due
to the adverse effects of its regulatory structure. The participation of
foreign universities, while not a panacea for all the system's ailments, offers an avenue
for easing some of the pressures building
up within it. Historically, foreign participation in the sector has had
an unimpressive record and has faced numerous functional and
ideological barriers. However, of late, there is a discernible dissension in the
public discourse on this subject, particularly
from the government and its agencies. The ability of foreign universities to
take advantage of these changes will depend to a great extent on their intentions
vis-à-vis the scale and duration of their involvement. Ultimately, those
who envision a symbiotic relationship with the Indian education system are most
likely to succeed in entering and thriving in the Indian market. |
