India Yet to Attract Ivy League Campuses, Parliamentary Panel Urges Stronger Push

Report Highlights India's Missed Opportunities in Hosting Top-Tier Global Universities​

New Delhi, April 6 — A parliamentary panel has raised concerns over India’s inability to attract campuses from world-renowned universities, including the Ivy League, despite growing interest from global institutions in establishing a presence in the country. The panel emphasized the need for proactive efforts to host such elite institutions, citing the academic benefits and international prestige they would bring.

The observations were made in a report tabled in the Rajya Sabha earlier this week by a committee led by Congress MP Digvijay Singh.

“The Committee notes that in recent years, there has been a notable trend of foreign universities establishing campuses in India, driven by India’s vast student market and the government’s push for collaborations and joint degrees. However, India is yet to secure a campus from any of the leading global universities,” the report stated.

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Ivy League Absence Raises Concerns​

The report specifically named prestigious U.S. institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia, as well as New York University and Carnegie Mellon University, noting that none of them have established campuses in India.

The Ivy League, known for its academic excellence and elite reputation, remains absent from India’s expanding higher education landscape, despite government reforms and regulatory frameworks designed to attract foreign players.

Current Foreign University Participation in India​

While the U.S. remains notably absent, some progress has been made with institutions from other countries:

• Southampton University from the UK is expected to open its India campus this year.
• Australian universities Deakin and Wollongong have already launched campuses in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).
• Queen’s University Belfast and Coventry University have also received approval to establish campuses in GIFT City.

These developments align with the University Grants Commission (UGC)’s 2023 regulations aimed at facilitating the entry of foreign universities into India.

Strengthening International Outreach: Study in India​

The panel also reviewed the progress of the Study in India (SII) initiative, launched in 2018 to attract international students to Indian institutions. According to the report:

• The Department of Higher Education is actively targeting students from South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
• UGC guidelines now allow up to 25% supernumerary seats for foreign students.
• Universities are being encouraged to establish international affairs offices and alumni connect cells to foster global engagement.

Research Collaborations Gaining Momentum​

On the academic front, the committee acknowledged promising strides in international research collaborations:

• A scheme to promote joint research between Indian and foreign institutions is underway, with 28 nationsincluding the US, UK, Germany, Australia, and France participating.
• The focus areas include critical and emerging technologies, energy and sustainability, food security, healthcare, and industry.
• As of now, 787 joint research proposals have been approved, with collaborative output seen in the form of conferences, workshops, and co-authored publications.

Call for Strategic Action​

Despite these advancements, the absence of top-tier global campuses is seen as a significant gap. The panel urged the Department of Higher Education to intensify efforts to bring in Ivy League and similarly ranked institutions, thereby enriching the domestic academic ecosystem and providing Indian students with global-level education without leaving the country.