UK and Australian universities are expanding their presence in India through new educational initiatives, according to delegates at The PIE Mumbai conference. The British Council’s Rittika Chanda Parruck highlighted the significance of India’s National Education Policy 2020 in facilitating collaborations and mobility between India and the UK. Austrade’s Vik Singh announced two new Australian campuses in GIFT city, with plans to expand beyond select cities.
The UK and Australia’s efforts aim to build new campuses, seek online collaborations and expand beyond select cities. Stuart Bannerman emphasized the importance of “decolonised transnational education,” where India decides on international institutions’ presence.
India’s growing market requires 80 million more university places to reach its 2030 goal of a 50% gross enrolment ratio. Stakeholders must consider this, with countries like Australia looking to pursue opportunities beyond the GIFT City model. The British Council is spearheading internationalisation efforts in state universities across India, with a focus on making education models accessible.
The conference highlighted the potential for international collaboration in India’s education sector- with a focus on mutual recognition of qualifications, online collaborations and expanding access to education. With India’s growing market and ambitious education goals, the country is poised to become an education superpower.
