US universities deflate Kapil Sibal’s campus claim

When human resource development minister Kapil Sibal returned from the US recently, he boasted of a long list of foreign universities interested in setting up shop in India. But it appears that his claim does not hold much water. At least two universities DNA wrote to denied India plans.

Harvard isn’t coming, nor is George Washington University. 
Sibal had, based on his interactions with representatives of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Yale, Boston, Washington, Houston, Kentucky, Nebraska and North Carolina universities, claimed that many US universities were keen on setting up campuses in India.

However, Michelle Sherrard of George Washington University said, “We have no plans for a campus in India.”

Jim Aisner, director of media relations at Harvard Business School (HBS), wrote, “HBS has only one campus and it is in Boston, Massachusetts. We have no plans to open more. We, however, have research centres around the globe, including one in Mumbai. Their mission is to help HBS faculty with on-site research and course development in each of the regions served.”

Other universities, it is learnt, are adopting a wait-and-watch policy. Many are believed to have developed cold feet due to the strict norms proposed in the foreign education provider bill.

An expert who tracks the Indo-US education scene, said American universities were waiting to see how the foreign educational institutions (regulation of entry and operation) bill is adopted by parliament. “Some US universities were thinking of setting up campuses here, just the way Michigan University set up a campus in the Middle East [West Asia] or the way it tied up in Singapore and Hong Kong. They were also willing to take up losses initially. But certain provisions in the bill, such as almost 50% reservation for SCs/STs and OBCs, hiring, fee structure and ban on remittances, are big sitting points for them,” the expert said.

The government, aware of the apprehensions, is trying to rework the bill. The changes include doing away with inspection by UGC, fee structure, hiring etc. But there is no commitment on removing the biggest obstacle — 49.5% quota for SC/ST and OBC.

“The whole industry is waiting for the clarification. I don’t think the quota system will deter foreign universities. I am optimistic about this government move, but also worried about small and fake universities entering the Indian market. We have to be cautious and see only the best enter,” Ashok Mittal, chancellor of Lovely Professional University, said.

Many foreign universities offer degree courses in India in partnership with local universities. Carnegie Mellon, for instance, has been offering a master’s programmme at the Chennai-based Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar School of Advanced Software Engineering. Students spend over $53,000 for the 18-month programmme — 15% less than what they would have to pay in the US.

Once the bill is passed, foreign universities will be able to offer independent degrees without tie-ups with local universities.