Positioning India as a Global Education hub

With rapid progress of technology, it has become extremely important to have an education system that can lead the way. The convergence of technology and education, coupled with comprehensive globalisation, gives India an unparalleled opportunity to shape the future of global education. The country, with its rich cultural heritage, robust educational infrastructure and a substantial pool of young talent, is uniquely positioned to become a global education hub.

Higher education in India has always been a focus area with the country being home to some of the world's renowned higher education institutions that specialises in science, technology and management. However, till recently, none of these institutions of global reputation have scored all-round to be listed on the global rankings. According to the recent Times Higher Education 2024 World University Rankings, the top-ranked Indian institution, the Indian Institute of Science (Bangalore), has been ranked between 201 and 250, while four others, namely, Anna University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Mahatma Gandhi University and Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences have been ranked between 501 and 600. It is important that Indian education system leverages its strength to transform itself as a preferred destination for higher education and stop the movement of Indian students to other countries.

Reversing the trend, international students are coming to India from more than 180 countries with the top 10 countries comprising 63.9% of the total foreign students enrollment. Between 2018 and 2019, the number of international students in India surged by 28%, indicating a growing interest in Indian higher education institutions.

The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) is the Government’s long-term plan for reforming the Indian higher education system by 2030. It has mentioned the internationalisation of higher education as a key pillar of the strategy.

This paper, "Positioning India as the Global Education Hub," discusses, in detail, the strategies, innovations, and collaborations necessary to realise this vision. It delves into key areas where India can leverage its strengths, address its challenges, and ultimately emerge as a leader in the global educational arena.