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FDI in higher education
By ST Team
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Tuesday, 12 September 2006, 19:30 IST
NEW DELHI: The department of commerce and the Ministry of HRD are engaged in a lash presently. They are debating whether to permit the opening of foreign players in the country, to attract FDI.
Estimates prove that more than one-lakh Indian students join universities for higher studies every year. Realizing this, foreign universities including those from the U.S, the U.K and Australia are keen to set up shop in India.
The ministry of commerce has brought out a paper, 'Higher Education in India and GATS: An opportunity for remarks from stakeholders. The paper is expected to ascertain the opening up of higher education to foreign players for tapping the trade potential in education services under the WTO regime.
The paper seeks to recognize markets for overseas Indian education services, the obstacles faced by the Indian institutions, the role of regulatory bodies like UGC and verify Indias response to the requests made by other countries for opening up the sector.
On the other hand, the department of commerce has been pitching for 100 percent FDI in higher education, suggesting SEZs for foreign education providers. The HRD ministry is unwilling to permit use of concessions in the education sector as a bargain for gains in other services at WTO negotiations.