Internationalisation of Higher Education in India NITI Aayog Roadmap
Context
NITI Aayog has released a policy report on Internationalisation of Higher Education in India to operationalise NEP-2020, with the objective of transforming India into a global education and research hub by 2047, aligned with Viksit Bharat @2047.
Meaning of Internationalisation of Higher Education
Internationalisation of Higher Education refers to the systematic integration of international, intercultural and global dimensions into the curriculum, research, governance and overall functioning of higher education institutions.
Core Features of Internationalisation
Internationalisation at Home
Embedding global curricula, foreign faculty, joint courses and international research exposure within Indian campuses, benefiting nearly 97 percent of Indian students who study domestically.
Two-way Academic Mobility
Promotion of balanced inbound and outbound student and faculty mobility, including joint PhD supervision, visiting professorships and exchange programmes.
Cross-border Institutional Presence
Facilitation of foreign university campuses in India and offshore campuses of Indian institutions abroad, expanding India’s global academic footprint.
Research-led Global Integration
Focus on joint research projects, co-authored publications, shared laboratories and participation in global research consortia.
Education as Soft Power
Leveraging higher education as an instrument of diplomacy, cultural influence and long-term engagement, particularly with the Global South.
India’s Potential in Higher Education
Demographic Advantage
India’s average age of 28.4 years provides a large and youthful talent pool for global education and innovation.
Scale and Capacity
With 1,200 plus universities and around 40 million students, India offers unmatched scale for international student absorption.
Cost and Quality Advantage
Professional education in engineering, medicine and management is available at 30 to 40 percent lower cost than in Western countries.
Knowledge Economy Strengths
India’s success in IT, space, pharmaceuticals and digital public infrastructure enhances its credibility as a global learning hub.
Global Rankings Presence
The inclusion of 54 Indian institutions in QS World Rankings 2026 reflects readiness to host 1 lakh international students by 2030.
Challenges to Internationalisation
Inbound Outbound Imbalance
Over 13 lakh Indian students study abroad, while India hosts only around 50,000 foreign students.
Foreign Exchange Outflow
Overseas education remittances touched USD 3.4 billion in 2023–24, creating economic pressure.
Regulatory Fragmentation
Multiple regulators and lack of a single degree equivalence framework discourage foreign participation.
Institutional Readiness Gaps
Many state and rural universities lack international hostels, faculty support systems and global engagement offices.
Weak Global Branding
Indian universities suffer from low international visibility and limited alumni diplomacy.
NITI Aayog’s Key Recommendations
Inter Ministerial Task Force
Creation of a high-level body under the Ministry of Education for coordination of funding, targets and global engagement.
National Equivalence Portal
A single window digital platform for recognition of foreign and Indian degrees to ease mobility.
Campus within a Campus Model
Allowing foreign universities to operate within Indian HEIs using a brownfield approach with a 10 year sunset clause.
Country Centres of Excellence
Designation of Central Universities as nodal hubs, such as 54 Centres of Excellence for 54 countries, to deepen bilateral research.
Vishwa Bandhu Fellowship
A flagship fellowship to attract global researchers and diaspora faculty from India’s 3.5 crore overseas population.
Reforms in NIRF
Incorporation of international faculty ratio, inbound students and joint publications into national rankings.
Tagore Academic Mobility Framework
Multilateral credit recognition and mobility arrangements with ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BRICS and other regional groupings.
Conclusion
The NITI Aayog roadmap marks a strategic shift from India being a source of global students to a destination for global talent. By strengthening Internationalisation at Home, India aims to retain brain capital, reduce foreign exchange outflow and reassert its role as a Vishwa Guru, with a target of 8 lakh international students by 2047.
Source : PIB