Talking about the rules, RP Tiwari, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Punjab, says, “Offline mode will provide better exposure to new age learners in a completely different learning ecosystem. Although 30% credit limit may not be enough, 50% is required if we want to prepare our youth for global careers. ,
quality matters
He further adds, “UGC announcements will provide more flexibility to different groups of learners. But if Indian institutions want to attract foreign scholars, they have to raise the quality standards.
Regarding the fee structure, which the UGC has said needs to be affordable for a wide cross section, Tewari explains. “The funding pattern of Indian universities is very poor. If we want to keep the fee structure at a lower level, the government’s share has to be increased.
increase in foreign students
Amarjeeva Lochan, Joint Dean of International Relations, University of Delhi (DU), says, “The new agreement will increase the number of students from abroad from 20,000 to nearly 50,000, as studying in India is an affordable option.” Lochan says, “Foreign students are admitted under the supernumerary category, but after collaboration, it will be difficult to accommodate students, even on a short-term basis.
conservation of resources
He is hopeful that the new measures will help conserve foreign exchange reserves and also bring in partner institutions from Asian countries as they need to be among the world’s top 1,000 in the QS World University Rankings or the Times Higher Education Rankings. “Overseas study in various programs costs the Indian economy up to $50 billion which is a drain on the country’s resources. Even if the craze for full-time foreign degrees continues, joint collaboration will likely create a new social order where more Or there could be a potential for inferiority complex related to limited foreign exposure,” he warned.
tall order
When asked whether such reforms can help prevent brain drain in the long run, Ramakrishnan Raman, Director, SIBM Pune and Dean – Faculty of Management SIU, says, “This is a tall order to claim. When merit and aptitude are given importance – the opportunities available outweigh the necessary opportunities – when the bureaucratic process becomes a thing of the past – only then can stopping brain drain be possible.”
To be prepared for a global career, he emphasized, requires preparation on multiple fronts and it is not just about credits earned in foreign HEIs. “If students earning credit have a range of skills, including language proficiency, requisite technical expertise, and the ability to work with peer groups of the global workforce, they can show credit to enhance their CVs,” he says.