Opening new vistas

TRENDS 2006-2007

EDUCATION: Countries continue to woo Indian students, but now expect them to launch foreign universities in India.

Without question, the star of the year 2006 was the Reservation in Admission Bill, 2006, and the debate and furore surrounding it.

But at the same time, the investment activity in the education sector witnessed an increase, both within the country as well as from foreign countries like the UK and Australia in the form of research grants and new scholarships.

The University Grants Commission was allocated Rs 1,270 crore in 2006-07, a substantial increase over previous allocations, enabling increased assistance to central universities in the North-east and an increase in the number of state universities assisted and expansion of remedial coaching centres.

The highlight in investment though was the increase in foreign investments in the forms of grants and scholarships. Saudi Arabia offered scholarships to 500 students to study in India, starting this year.

It also announced full funding for the setting up of a library at Jamia Milia Islamia, Delhi. In addition, the Indian government has promised the setting up of more branches of National Institute of Open Schooling in Saudi Arabia.

The Prime Minister of UK launched the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKERI) last year, committing over £12 million through the UK government's Department for Education and Skills, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Office of Science and Innovation and the British Council.

The initiative received tremendous support from BAE Systems, BP, GlaxoSmithKline and Shell that have pledged almost £2 million. Australia too announced an initiative enabling funding for research.

The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) for scientific and technological cooperation is receiving an overall contribution of AUD 20 million from the Australian government with matching funding from the Indian government over the next five years.

Australia also launched its Endeavour Scholarships covering full tuition and living expenses for study in Australia, Endeavour India Research Fellowships and Endeavour India Executive Awards.

The US dipped its fingers into the area of secondary schooling last year and administered fellowships for the development of secondary school teachers. Though there was no significant investment from the Canadian government, they did play around a bit with their rules.

The off-campus employment policy was adopted, allowing international students to work up to 20 hours a week during an academic year and full time during holiday breaks. International students can also now stay on and work for two years after completing their studies, as opposed to one year previously.

This year, the UK also wants to extend its focus from higher education to schools and professional skills, exploring the possibility of collaborating with the government as well as private sector sponsors in three major areas "" higher education and research, schools and professional and technical skills. The US will also launch two new programmes as part of its development of secondary school teachers initiative.

However, in 2007, foreign countries are looking to increase FDI in the education sector through partnerships and tie ups with Indian institutions. Jane Schukoske, executive director, USEFI, says, "We sense growing enthusiasm and planning for collaborations and tie-ups between US universities and Indian institutions."

How much success direct investment initiatives by these countries will receive though stands to be seen, with the Indian government considering a proposal for the regulation of entry and operation, maintenance of quality and prevention of commercialisation of education by foreign educational institutions in higher education.