With the UGC notifying the regulations for international universities wishing to set up campuses in India, back in November 2023, certain universities across the US, the UK, and Australia have already expressed their interest in India.
Educators from France, which has been building closer relations with India through various educational initiatives, are also encouraging universities in the country to consider India as a new destination.
A recent webinar organised by the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, titled ‘Evolution of NEP and FHEI norms: A French Perspective’, saw stakeholders encouraging the establishment of French university campus branches in India.
Moderated by Maud Le Bars, South Asia area manager, Omnes Education, the session’s panellists included Dr. Archana Thakur, joint secretary, UGC; Dr. Dipesh Shah, executive director (Development), IFSCA GIFT City; Dr. Fabien Chareix, coordinator, University, Science and Technology Sector, Institut Français en Inde, and Dr. Mohit Anand, director of operations – India and associate professor- International Business and Strategy, emlyon business school.
“We have to monitor the regulations and participate. As representatives of our country we have to be directly involved in the process,” said Chareix during the discussion.
“French schools planning to come to India have to follow a bunch of aspects such as academic qualifications permitted by the UGC, their national and international rankings, and also of the institutions they are planning to cooperate with in India. There are over 40,000 HEIs in India, so French institutions need to have accurate maths and principles before opening up campuses in India.”
A private business school in France, Emlyon Business School, could stand out as a blueprint for French institutions with its already-established programs in Bhubaneswar and Mumbai.
The school started its operations in Mumbai in association with the city’s renowned St. Xavier’s College after a successful implementation in Bhubaneswar.
Despite their success, Anand believes more discussions are needed to understand the entry of French campuses into the Indian market.
“We have had a long-term association in India, for over a decade, with leading IIMs and other institutions. We signed the first MOU between an Indian and a French school to offer a program on MSC in Sports in Bhubaneswar under the aegis of the Odisha government wherein we have been able to help graduate two batches,” said Anand.
“With the NEP and FHEI norms, we are having a series of discussions with the UGC and GIFT in order to get more information and understand the entry into the Indian market. French schools will have to focus on the regulatory aspects, entry norms, and more in the form of discussions,” stated Anand, who added India is not an easy market with universities now not only relying on Engineering, Management, and MBA but also AI, digital marketing, entrepreneurship, and skill development courses.
According to Chareix, French organisations in India such as IFI have already reached out to GIFT concerning the newly developed financial hub’s policy on international campuses operating separately from the UGC.
“Though I don’t have a big group of French public universities looking at setting up campuses in India, we do have campuses around the globe. We are monitoring the regulations coming from UGC and GIFT, and need to have heavyweight investments in the country which need to be thought through,” stated Chareix.
Highlighting the importance of having a balanced approach, Anand suggested French institutions will also have to operate in line with France’s own policy towards Indian students.
“French institutions will have to decide the scope of their activities in India in line with the vision of the French government to increase the number of Indian students in the country by 30,000 by 2030,” said Anand.
“Institutions from France will have to create linkages with corporate companies and organisations in India which can improve their offerings in skill development, jobs, academic executive programs, training, and more.”
UGC’s regulations for international campuses, which is in tune with NEP 2020, aim to improve India’s internationalisation efforts in higher education.
From inviting the top 500 institutions in the world to instituting the Office of International Affairs as a single-point entity to facilitate the entry of international students, UGC has aimed to eliminate any barriers international institutes might have in the country.
“Institutions from France will have to create linkages with corporate companies and organisations in India which can improve their offerings in skill development, jobs, academic executive programs, training, and more.”
Dr. Mohit Anand, emlyon business school
“If a French institution wants to offer courses in French, there’s no bar in terms of that. French universities will have to offer the same program in India like the one they are offering in France and have the exact set up as the parent campus,” said Thakur.
With the first batch of students starting their classes at GIFT’s Deakin University branch last week, and the University of Wollongong expected to initiate their operations by July-end, the financial centre is riding the wave of global interest.
“We are in continued discussions with universities from the UK, France, and more, for them to set up campuses in India. We are allowing universities to operate the same way they run their main campus. The type of flexibility we are offering in terms of taxes and infrastructure is helping foreign universities establish campuses at a faster pace,” said Shah.
French students are also being encouraged to take up exchange programs in India with over 75% of students stating that they will consider the latter as a study abroad option during a webinar, as previously reported by The PIE News.
