– Niraalee Shah, Managing Director , Travel Design Pvt. Ltd

India, once home to the ancient universities of Nalanda and Takshashila, is again poised to reclaim its place as a global centre of learning. With 27.3% of its population aged between 15–29 years (Ministry of Education, 2023) and rapidly evolving academic infrastructure, the country holds both the opportunity and the responsibility to emerge as a higher education leader.

The current landscape
India hosts one of the world’s largest education systems with over 1,100 universities and 43,000 colleges (AISHE 2021–22). The Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education has risen to 28.4%, signalling widening access. Yet, the country attracts only about 50,000 international students annually — a fraction compared with the United States (1 million) or the United Kingdom (600,000). This underscores significant untapped potential.

Harnessing India’s diversity
India’s diversity offers unique advantages for global learners:

• Regional academic strengths: IITs and IISc in engineering and science, IIMs in management, NIFT in fashion, NID in design, and thematic hubs such as Bengaluru for IT, Pune for liberal arts, and Varanasi for cultural studies.
• Cultural richness: With 22 official languages, 2,000 dialects, and multiple traditions, international students gain cultural immersion alongside academic learning.
• Affordability: Tuition fees are often one-fifth of those in the West, with significantly lower living costs.

Reforms driving change
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 lays a transformative foundation through:

• Multidisciplinary education encouraging flexibility across streams.
• International collaboration, including provisions for top global universities to establish campuses in India.
• Digital expansion through platforms like SWAYAM and hybrid models.
• Research and innovation, with a goal of raising gross expenditure on R&D from 0.7% to 2–3% of GDP.

The road ahead
For India to truly emerge as a global higher education hub, further steps are essential:

• Improving global rankings by investing in research, attracting international faculty, and building innovation ecosystems.
• Enhancing student experience through quality accommodation, healthcare, cultural orientation, and streamlined visa processes.
• Global branding akin to the “Incredible India” campaign to showcase affordability, diversity, and excellence.
• Industry–academia linkages to strengthen employability outcomes.
• Regional specialisations, such as Ayurveda in Kerala, AI in Bengaluru, textiles in Gujarat, and marine studies in Tamil Nadu.

Looking forward
With effective implementation of NEP 2020 and strategic investment, India could host more than 500,000 international students by 2035, competing with traditional leaders like the US, UK, and Australia. As the world seeks affordable, diverse, and high-quality education destinations, India is well placed to reclaim its ancient status as a seat of learning and redefine the future of higher education on its own terms.

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