**OVERVIEW OF EDUCATION IN INDIA**

**Summary:**

In 2005-06, India remained the largest source of international students
in U.S. Universities, for the fifth consecutive year. There are
currently 76,504 Indian students in the U.S. representing 13.5 percent
of all international students. While overall foreign student enrollment
remained fairly steady, Indian student enrollment decreased by 5 percent
2005-2006. Misperceptions about access to U.S. universities and visas
are the usual barriers to a higher level of enrollment of students from
India to the U.S. Majority (72 percent) of Indian students study in the
United States at the graduate level; 20 percent at the under graduate
level; and the balance 7.5 percent pursue other studies.

**Market Trends:**

Source: Open Doors: Report on International Educational Exchange, Nov
2005

According to the Executive Director, U.S. Educational Foundation in
India (USEFI),

Indian students continue to enroll in U.S. educational institutions in
record numbers. They recognize that higher education in the U.S.
enhances their career prospects. Indian student enrollments decreased by
5 percent 2005-2006 after the double-digit increases of the last three
years, as there are bound to be fluctuations. Combining the magnitude of
demand for higher education in India, the value Indian families place on
U.S. higher education, and the availability of student loans, there will
continue to be steady interest by Indian students to enroll in U.S.
universities. Students find that the investment they make in U.S.
education is a good value given future career opportunities. Student
loans are more readily available in India than ever before. India has
one of the largest and oldest systems of higher education. There are 320
universities, of which 131 have affiliated universities. In addition,
there are private and accredited universities, institutions of national
importance, independent institutes and over 15,500 colleges. Together
they offer a wide range of degree and diploma programs.

**International Competitors:**

United Kingdom

Canada

Australia

Ireland

New Zealand

**Market Access:**

Despite such large numbers of Indian institutions, demand outstrips
supply by a wide margin. There are approximately 9.5 million students
enrolled in higher education in India. This number is projected to rise
to 11 million over the next three years. Competition is fierce for
limited seats in competitive engineering and management programs.
Reservation policies, a quota system designed to promote education
opportunities for underprivileged groups in India, further limits
enrollment opportunities for many Indians. These, combined with other
factors, help make a foreign education an attractive option for Indian
students, particularly those from affluent, English-speaking sections of
Indian society.

More than half of all Indian students studying overseas choose U.S.
universities. The attraction of a U.S. education can be attributed to:

1\. The variety and flexibility of the U.S. education system

2\. U.S. educational system's grounding in practical and career-focused
training.

3\. Post graduation career opportunities in the U. S.

NAFSA (Association of International Educators) estimates that all
foreign students and their dependents contributed more than \$13.3
billion to the U.S. economy during the academic year 2004-2005. It is
estimated that the average annual expenditure of an Indian student
studying in the United States is \$20,000. By this estimate, the Indian
student population contributed approximately \$1.6 billion to the U.S.
economy in 2004. With India fast emerging as a dynamic economy focusing
on knowledge-based activities, there is a surge in demand for
professionals who are in tune with modern business practices. However,
not all of the students can afford the high cost of education overseas
and living abroad. Home delivery of foreign education is gaining
popularity among this sector of students. Foreign universities with
campuses in India or "tie-ups" of educational institutions with foreign
universities are now offering an alternative to studying abroad. In
addition, new "twinning" programs, or cooperative programs between
Indian and foreign institutions have also increased the availability of
a lower cost education for this segment.

**Major Opportunities:**

There are six types of operations by foreign education providers in
India:

1\. **Twinning**: Students undertake a part of their study in India and
part abroad in a foreign university.

2\. **Franchisee**: A foreign institution grants permission to an
institution in India to execute their programs with their name,
curriculum and evaluation methods.

3\. **Study and examination centers**: The foreign education partner
establishes an agreement with the Indian-institution to deliver its
courses and also conduct examinations.

4\. **Multiple collaborations**: An Indian institution establishes
relationships with multiple degree providers abroad.

5\. **Link programs**: Partial credits are given for courses conducted
in India while the balance of the courses are taken abroad. The
difference between a Link program and Twinning is that Link programs
grant a degree by the foreign university. Twinning programs do not.

6\. **Program collaboration**: the Indian institution and the foreign
education partner give a joint degree. Internet learning is another
avenue with rapid growth. Students in India now have the opportunity to
acquire an internationally recognized degree without leaving the
country. E-learning sales in India are estimated to grow to about \$15.5
million by 2005, having increased at 17 percent per year since 2000.

**Best Prospects/Services:**

The promising sub-sectors are IT education and E-learning

Source: National Association of Software and Service Companies

**Upcoming Trade Shows:**

Times Education Boutique 2007

May 12-13, 2007

Kolkata, India

[www.timeseducation.org](http://www.timeseducation.org/)

Contact: Mr. Manish Mohan: 91-98206 03890 or Mr. Siddhartha Sen:
91-9831310044

The Times of India is India's largest English daily. The Times Group is
supporting a series of education fairs in India for the last several
years that are publicized widely through its media network, thereby
ensuring strong student participation. This initiative, named "The
Education Boutique 2006" was a big success. Times Group is now launching
the Education Boutique 2007 in 15 cities of India. Overseas education is
one of the pillars of this event.

Commercial Service Kolkata is collaborating with Times Education
Boutique 2007 to provide a product literature center of U.S. education
institutions that are interested in recruitment of Indian students.

Education Worldwide India

Ahmedabad April 11- 12, 2007

Pune April 14-15, 2007

Mumbai April 18-19, 2007

New Delhi April 21-22, 2007

Hyderabad April 25-26,2007

Bangalore April 28-29, 2007

Kolkata May 5- 6, 2007

Infra Educa

New Delhi April 12-14, 2007

Jaipur May 4-6, 2007

FICCI Higher Education Network (FICCI HEN)

New Delhi April 26-27, 2007

**Other Resources and Key Contacts:**

United States Educational Foundation in India:
http://www.fulbright-india.org

NAFSA: <http://opendoors.iienetwork.org/?p=69736>

**For More information please contact:**

The U.S. Commercial Service in Kolkata, India via e-mail at
<srimoti.mukherjee@mail.doc.gov>; <sandra.raychaudhury@mail.doc.gov>; or
by phone at: 91-33-3984-6402. You may also visit our website at
[http://]{.underline}[www.BuyUSA.gov/India](http://www.BuyUSA.gov/India)
to discover other commercial opportunities in India.

**The U.S. Commercial Service -- Your Global Business Partner:**

With its network of offices across the United States and in more than 80
countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of
Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing
expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services
worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the
U.S. nearest you by visiting [http://www.export.gov]{.underline}.