Lok Sabha Question No. 219 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-24
Subject: Higher Education
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 219 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.06.2019

## Higher Education

## 219. SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware that a large number of Indian students go abroad for higher education every year resulting in outflow of huge amount of money from the country and if so, the details thereof; (b)  whether  the  amount  could  have  been  spent  in  the  country  itself  if  the  higher educational institutions of the country are upgraded to global standards which would not  only  strengthen  educational  institutions  but  also  serve  the  best  interest  of  the students; and (c) if so, the details of efforts made by the Government in this regard during the last four years along with the result thereof ?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

- (a) to (c): Studies abroad is a matter of individual will and choice. Moreover, there are  no  restrictions  on  cross-border  students  mobility  and  such  mobility  can  be owing to variety of reasons such as affordability, access to bank loans, exposure to foreign society, aptitude for particular branch  of  studies, inability to gain admission  to  top  Indian  Institutes  due  to  capacity  limitations  etc.  Ministry  of Human Resource Development does not maintain the information regarding the number of Indian students going abroad.

Government of India is very keen to improve the global standards/ International ranking  of  the  Indian  Higher  Education  Institutions.  In  this  regard,  one  of  the latest initiatives of Ministry of Human Resource Development is the declaration of  Educational  Institutions  as  Institutions  of  Eminence  (IoE)  to  provide  world class  education  to  the  Indian  Students  within  the  country.  The  Government  has approved the Regulatory Architecture in the form of University Grants Commission (Declaration of Government Institutions as Institutions of Eminence) Guidelines,  2017  for  public  Institutions  and  University  Grants  Commission (Institutions  of  Eminence  Deemed  to  be  Universities)  Regulations,  2017  for private  Institutions  for  setting  up  /  upgrading  of  20  Institutions  (10  from  public sector & 10 from private sector) as world class teaching and research institutions known  as  Institutions  of  Eminence  (IoE).  Six  such  institutions  have  been accredited the status of IoE by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. It is  expected  that  the  above  selected  Institutions  will  come  up  in  top  500  of  the world  ranking  in  10  years  and  in  top  100  of  the  world  ranking  eventually.  To achieve  the  top  world  ranking,  these  Institutions  shall  be  provided  with  greater autonomy viz. to admit foreign students up to 30 % of admitted students; to recruit foreign faculty upto 25% of faculty strength; to offer online courses upto 20% of its  programmes; to  enter  into  academic  collaboration  with  top  500  in  the  world ranking Institutions without permission of University Grants Commission; free to fix and charge fees from foreign students without restriction; flexibility of course structure in terms of number of credit hours and years to take a degree; complete flexibility  in  fixing  of  curriculum  and  syllabus,  etc.  These  Institutions  are expected to provide world class education to Indian Students at an affordable rate, which may also bring down the number of students going abroad.

Similarly, the Global Initiative of Academic  Networks  (GIAN)  in  higher education launched on 30th November, 2015 has been hugely successful. Under this programme, distinguished academicians from premier institutions across the world are invited to conduct short term courses of one week or two week at Indian institutions.    More  than  1800  courses  have,  so  far,  been  approved  under  this Programme. Other details may be accessed on https://gian.iitkgp.ac.in.

The University Grants Commission (UGC)  has granted autonomy to 76 Educational  Institutions  which  have  maintained  high  academic  standards.  UGC has  categorized  Universities  into  three  categories:  Category-I,  Category-II,  and Category-III.  Universities  coming  under  Category-I  and  Category-II  may  hire, without approval of UGC, foreign faculty upto twenty percent over and above of their sanctioned faculty strength. They shall also be free to admit foreign students on merit, subject to a maximum of twenty percent over and above of the strength of their approved domestic students. Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration  (SPARC) aims at improving the research ecosystem of India's higher educational institutions by facilitating  academic  and  research  collaborations  between  Indian  Institutions [overall  top-100  or  category-wise  top-100  in  NIRF  (including  Institutions  of Eminence    and  such  Private  Institutions  which  are  recognized  under  12(B)  of UGC Act)] and the best foreign institutions in the world (top-500 overall and top200  subject-wise  institutions  listed  in  QS  World  University  Ranking)  from  28 selected nations to jointly solve problems of national and international relevance. This involves the mobility of students/faculty for long term research and teaching activities.  So  far,  394  research  projects  under  this  scheme  have  been  approved. More details are available on https://sparc.iitkgp.ac.in. Besides,  Ministry of  Human Resource Development has launched the 'Study in

India' programme, with the objective to attract more number of foreign students to study  in  Indian  Institutions,  and  thereby  promoting  the  balanced  mobility  of international  students;  growth  in  India's  global  market  share  of  International students;  and  increase  the  global  ranking  of  Indian  Educational  Institutions eventually resulting in bringing down the number of Indian students going abroad for higher studies.

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