‘Foreign universities welcome’

NEW DELHI: Should foreign universities be allowed in India as Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi has suggested?

While most academics welcomed the idea, saying it would end “academic landlordism”, some felt it would lead to “elitism” in education.

Gandhi had said in Uttarakhand on October 21 that “they (foreign universities) should be allowed. There is no reason they shouldn’t be. I will myself take the idea forward”.
The Congress, the strongest partner in the ruling coalition at the Centre, says the main obstacle to the entry of foreign universities are the Left parties.

“The matter has been discussed in parliament. The opposition came mainly from the Left parties as they are opposed to privatisation of education,” party media coordinator Tom Vadakkan said.

Abhishek, a research scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said, “Today, Indian academics function in lobbies — pro-Left and anti-Left. Those who are not part of these lobbies don’t find a place in the academia. The coming of foreign universities will end this as they will only welcome talent, ignoring their ideological leanings.”

Some scholars feel the entry of foreign universities might “lead to the peril” of Indian universities.

“Foreign universities are more market-oriented and are bigger brands. To get best results, foreign universities should offer courses in collaboration with Indian universities,” Vinoj Abraham, associate professor at the Centre for Development Studies in Thiruvananthapuram, said.