New Delhi: Higher educational institutions,
including IITs and IIMs, on Tuesday hailed the government's go
ahead for a bill to allow entry of foreign education providers
in India and sought to allay any threat posed by the
institutions from abroad.
After the Cabinet approved the Foreign Educational
Institution (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill, 2010,
these institutions appeared upbeat about prospects of entry of
foreign universities in India.
"At the level of IITs, we welcome such a move. We have
no apprehension about the entry of such institutions," Prof
Gautam Baruah, Director IIT Guwahati, told agency.
As apprehensions have been raised over the possibility
of IIT and IIM faculty joining the foreign institutions, he
said, some faculty may join them but majority would prefer to
continue with the IITs.
"Money is not the only matter which would attract the
faculty. A right environment is important. It takes huge time
and effort in setting up a institute of IIT standards. It will
take years for them to come to that level," he said.
"There may be some faculty who will join the foreign
institutions. But that will not be an issue," Baruah added.
IIM Lucknow Director Prof Devi Singh said it is a good
move and will help bring internationally reputed education
providers to India.
"It is important that the foreign institutions
entering India offer the same degrees and diplomas that they
are offering back home. This will help ensure that the
certification provided by them in India will have the same
value internationally as their current qualification," Singh
said.
They need to follow the same curriculum and quality of
education which they provide in their own countries, he said.
Delhi University Vice Chancellor Prof Deepak Pental
said there is nothing to worry about the entry of foreign
institutions to India.
"This will help Indian institutions to come up to
global education standard. Indian institutions have better
human resource and government is supporting quiet well," he
said.
Pental did not rule out some faculty joining the
foreign institutions.
"But I do not see very big research taking place in
the new foreign institutions to be set up in India. Most of
them may come in subjects like management and law. I do not
think they will be interested to come in Science and
Technology," Pental said.
Private institutions like Indian School of Business
welcomed the move.
"We have always believed that the best public policy
for improving educational institutions is to enable and
encourage competition. The introduction of this bill allowing
FDI into India seems to be a step in the right direction,"
said Ajit Rangnekar, Dean, ISB.
"I am not aware of the details of the bill, but would
hope that the provisions applicable to foreign universities
are also extended to Indian Institutions of high calibre, and
that we have a level, competitive, growth oriented playing
field," he said.
Foreign Universities like Yale has welcomed the move
of the government.
"It will increase quality and access in the Indian
education system. It is an opportunity programme for the
foreign universities," George Joseph, assistant secretary for
International Affairs of Yale University, has said.
Though Yale has no immediate plan for setting up a
campus here, it has entered into more than 50 collaborations
in India and is interested for more such partnerships, said
Joseph, who is currently visiting the country.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 12:18