India has set an ambitious target of enrolling 500,000 foreign students in higher education by the year 2047, as revealed by NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam at the 18th FICCI Higher Education Summit. The CEO underscored the transformative impact of technology on the higher education sector, emphasizing the imperative for universities to wholeheartedly embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) to remain pertinent and competitive.
In a bid to attract a more diverse international student body, Subrahmanyam highlighted the necessity of establishing additional educational cities in India. Furthermore, he urged the private sector to contribute significantly to the expansion of the higher education ecosystem within the country, with the dual aim of drawing more international students to India and encouraging domestic students to consider pursuing education within the nation.
As part of the broader vision for 2047, NITI Aayog is developing a comprehensive document that assigns a distinct role to education. A pivotal aspect of this vision involves targeting the enrolment of half a million foreign students in India by enhancing the nation’s educational quality, brand value, and global rankings. Subrahmanyam envisions India as a global education provider and underscores the importance of garnering international recognition.
Touching upon the importance of innovation in higher education, the CEO emphasized the urgency of revamping the educational system to ensure that students are adequately prepared for the demands of various industries.
Highlighting the pivotal role of students in India’s future, Subrahmanyam stressed that the youth will play a key role during India’s journey in the Amrit Kaal. He asserted that universities will significantly contribute to shaping the thought processes of students. Recognizing the demographic dividend India possesses, Subrahmanyam believes that Indian universities and higher educational institutions have a critical 25-year window to fully harness this potential.
The inaugural session of the summit also saw the release of the FICCI-EY knowledge report titled ‘Transformation of Indian Higher Education: Strategies to Leapfrog.’ This report adds valuable insights to the ongoing discourse on reshaping and enhancing the higher education landscape in India.