Study In India: Centre will revise criteria to draw foreign students

New Delhi: Looking to increase the number of international students coming to India for higher studies the ministry of education will revise the criteria to allow more institutions to enrol foreign students, said a statement from the ministry.

Amit Khare, secretary, higher education, said the criteria for institutions partnering under the programme will soon be revised. Also, no distinction will be made between public and private institutions. He was speaking at the review meeting of the ministry’s Study in India programme with partner institutions.

The Study in India programme aims to attract international students to higher education institutions in India.

International students office

The ministry also reiterated that there is an urgent requirement of setting up international students’ offices in every institution that takes in international students. The office is to work as a single-window support for this group, right from the day they get selected to their joining the institution.

The ministry has also asked institutions to consider organizing orientation for international students when they join. Presently 117 institutions are partners under the programme which was launched in 2018. Admissions are merit-based and done through a common portal. Around 7,500 students from over 50 countries have come to Indian institutions so far under this programme.

There is a provision for financial assistance for this under the Champion Services Sector Scheme that supports SII, which can be provided to some institutions.

Joint and dual degree

The ministry is further looking at enhancing academic collaboration between Indian and international institutions to offer twinning, joint and dual degree programmes with credit transfer mechanism.

The partner institutions pointed out that the absence of internship for international students was a big drawback for any programme, the statement said. The education ministry will also look into the matter of allowing internships for international students with the concerned department of the government.

Write to us at news@careers360.com