NITI Aayog Releases Roadmap To Position India As Global Higher Education Hub By 2047

New Delhi, Dec 23 (KNN) NITI Aayog on Monday released a comprehensive policy report titled ‘Internationalisation of Higher Education in India: Prospects, Potential, and Policy Recommendations’, outlining a strategic roadmap to position India as a global hub for higher education and research by 2047. 

The report is the outcome of a collaborative effort between NITI Aayog and a consortium of knowledge partners led by IIT Madras. 

It is described as one of the first such comprehensive studies from the Global South, with a strong emphasis on the concept of ‘internationalisation at home’ envisaged under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Evidence-Based Assessment and Global Perspectives

The study draws on extensive qualitative and quantitative analysis, including a detailed survey of 160 Indian higher education institutions (HEIs) across 24 States, covering more than 100 parameters. 

It also incorporates insights from 140 national and international participants at a national workshop held at IIT Madras earlier this year, along with key informant interviews with experts from 30 international institutions across 16 countries.

The report examines global, national and institutional approaches to internationalisation, trends in student and faculty mobility over the past two decades, and opportunities to strengthen international academic and research collaborations. It also explores the prospects of establishing international branch campuses in India and overseas campuses of Indian public and private universities.

Leadership Perspectives

Speaking at the launch, Vice Chairman Suman Bery said there is both a strong business case and a diplomatic rationale for promoting internationalisation of higher education, particularly as a tool of soft power.

CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam underlined the potential benefits of internationalisation for the world’s fourth-largest economy, including improvements in curriculum quality, reduced foreign exchange outflows, and expanded research partnerships. 

He emphasised the role of private universities, the opportunity to engage India’s large diaspora, and the need for the government to act as a facilitator through streamlined regulation.

Policy Recommendations and Roadmap

The report sets out 22 policy recommendations, supported by 76 action pathways and 125 performance success indicators. 

These are organised across five thematic areas—strategy, regulation, finance, branding and outreach, and curriculum and culture—aimed at strengthening India’s global engagement in higher education and research over the coming decades.

(KNN Bureau)