The Hindu Business Line : Foreign educational institutions waiting for foray into India

Mumbai, Jan 22 The Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operations, Maintenance of Quality and Prevention of Commercialisation) Bill is being watched closely by some foreign institutions, which want to make a foray into India.

Canada York University

“The bill is expected to be approved by next year and we are ready with our business plan to set up a campus in India,” said Mr Dezso J. Horvath, Dean, Tanna H. Schulich School of Business, York University, Canada.

The university has identified the Mumbai-Pune highway as the place where they are looking for an area of 5-lakh sq ft.

Ohio University

Ohio University, which conducts an MBA programme with Christ College, Bangalore, welcomed the Bill and considers it an attractive proposition. Dr John L. Keifer, Ohio, said, “Apart from the practicality of going to a foreign country, once the bill is passed, we will feel more confident of coming here. It would be viable if pricing is not controlled by government.”

Ohio University conducts educational programmes in Brazil, Malaysia, West and East Europe and their forte lies in emerging markets such as India and China, added Dr Keifer.

Prof Shivaprakash A.R., Ohio University, said, “There is an enormous need for higher education in India, so such a move by the Government will be welcome.”

Tuck School of Business

Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, which provides executive education programmes to employees of Rolls Royce, Colgate and other companies in India, however, will not set up an Indian campus any time soon.

Dean Paul Danos pointed out that of all business schools of the world, only INSEAD has a foreign campus, at Singapore. “The expert global faculty that we have at campus cannot be duplicated at a campus elsewhere. We believe in admitting students from across the world to have a comprehensive campus atmosphere. Besides, price structures (fees) are very different,” he explained.

Prof Vijay Govindarajan, Tuck School, said, “It would be great, as India has 300 universities and needs 5,000 more to match the number in the US.” But he added, that there would not be a big rush of institutes waiting to set up base here, as not many global institutes would want to cater to 100 per cent Indian students.

Officials (10) from the HRD Ministry were clueless/ denied knowledge about the current position of the Bill and its implications.

More Stories on : Education | Maharashtra

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page