India’s push to welcome foreign universities is shifting higher education from a public good to a market commodity. Allowing profit-making universities could worsen inequality, making quality education even more inaccessible for socially and economically disadvantaged groups. With over 63% of higher education students already in private institutions, rising costs will leave many behind and create an education system catering mostly to the wealthy.
The Indian government is making bold moves to open the country’s doors to foreign universities, but the consequences could be far-reaching. What started as a plan under the UPA-II government to regulate foreign universities’ entry with academic oversight is now being repurposed by the NDA government to attract investment and turn India into a higher education hub. NITI Aayog’s proposal makes it clear: letting foreign universities run for profit is seen as a way to reduce government spending and meet the country’s growing demand for higher education.
But here’s the catch—commercialization comes at a price. Private institutions already dominate technical and professional education, accounting for nearly 74% of enrollment. This trend has pushed costs sky-high, making education a luxury that many can’t afford. And with the government increasingly stepping back from its responsibility to expand public higher education, millions of aspiring students are left with limited options.
The plan to allow foreign universities to operate in profit mode could further deepen the divide. While the move is aimed at boosting India’s economy and creating a more globally competitive education system, it risks excluding those who need education the most. Without safeguards, this could push higher education further out of reach for the country’s most vulnerable.
Keywords: Commercialization, Privatization, Higher Education, Foreign Universities, Profit, Regulation, Enrollment, Disadvantaged, Commodification, NITI Aayog
Entry of Foreign Universities: From Privatization to Commodification of Higher Education
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