– (Sandeep Sen is founder of Action Learning Labs, Delhi and Surya H.K. is visiting faculty, Salzburg Academy of Media & Global Change, Austria)

The new age of American uncertainty coincides with a quiet but determined revolution in India’s higher education ecosystem. Several new genre private universities have emerged as acceptable alternatives

For decades the default destination of international students, the United States is beginning to lose its halo, especially in aspirational Indian households. Recent deportations of Indian students from American airports, often without legitimate cause or clarity and forcible vetting of incoming students’ social media accounts, have injected fear and anger within India’s expanding middle class. As political winds shift, parents and students are beginning to wonder whether degrees and certification issued by American universities are worth the time, money and effort.

Fortuitously, the new age of American uncertainty coincides with a quiet but determined revolution happening in India’s higher education ecosystem. New genre private universities — Nayanta, Jindal, FLAME, Krea, Ashoka, Anant, Plaksha, Bennett and Shiv Nadar — have emerged as domestic alternatives. Under highly competitive leaders (see EW July) they are actively reshaping the higher education landscape with their focus on research, academic freedom, and interdisciplinary learning. With faculty drawn from around the world, international partnerships, and student-centered pedagogies, India’s new genre, globally benchmarked universities are beginning to provide the high-quality education that pull Indian students West.

These varsities have the potential to become not just national icons, but regional anchors, attracting talent from across South, East & Southeast Asia, and Africa. But this leap will only happen when India begins to see itself not just as an exporter of students, but as a destination for the best and brightest from neighbouring countries.

There are several reasons why this vision is achievable. First, Indian higher education offers strong academic learning at a fraction of the cost of studying in the US, Canada, UK and Australia. In engineering, medicine, and liberal arts, India’s top-ranked universities provide rigorous programs that are increasingly being recognised by global employers and graduate schools.

Second, for students in Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and many African nations, India offers a cultural and linguistic familiarity that eases transition. English is the medium of instruction, Indian campuses are diverse and vibrant, and India’s geographical proximity to home offers reassurance and convenience.

Third, India itself is becoming the story. With the world’s fastest-growing large economy and an expanding tech and innovation ecosystem, studying here can lead to valuable post-graduation job opportunities — both within India and around the world. Lastly, the rise of India’s edtech platforms and digital infrastructure enable hybrid and remote learning models, making Indian education more accessible to those who may not have the resources or freedom to travel abroad for extended periods.

Policy, too, is beginning to catch up with potential. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has mandated internationalisation of higher education. It invites foreign universities to establish campuses in India and encourages Indian institutions to think global. But while NEP 2020 provides direction, it cannot replace implementation. For India to emerge as a true education hub, several structural issues need to be urgently addressed.

Chief among them is the need for a streamlined and transparent visa and admission process for international students. Bureaucratic friction deters talent. So does lack of global branding. The best Indian universities still suffer from a quality perception gap, especially beyond South Asia.

Beyond academics and economics, internationalisation of Indian higher education offers immense foreign policy and soft power potential. When students from neighbouring and partner countries spend formative years studying, living, and collaborating in India, they are likely to depart not only with degrees but with deep-rooted ties to this country’s culture, people, and values. These alumni are potential policymakers, business leaders, academics, and changemakers in their home nations — carrying with them a lasting affinity for India.

According to the Union Ministry of Education’s All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), over 48,000 international students from more than 160 countries were studying in India in 2022-23, with the majority from Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and several African nations. While still a fraction compared to Western host countries, this number presents enormous opportunity for growth.

Education diplomacy has long been a strength of the US and UK, whose Fulbright, Rhodes, and Chevening scholars are now in leadership positions worldwide. China has also introduced international programs like Yenching fellows and Shwarzman scholars, building alumni communities in pursuit of global influence. India has pathways like the Young India Fellowship, Teach for India Fellowship, and Jagriti Yatra, but they rarely attract foreign talent.

If our higher education can meet these challenges head-on, India could once again become a global learning hub. In a globalised world where the West is becoming increasingly isolationist, India has a new chance to position itself as the intellectual and innovation hub of the world.

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