IITs, IIMs hail foreign university bill

Higher educational institutions, including IITs and IIMs, today hailed the government's go ahead for a bill to allow entry of foreign education providers in India and sought to allay any threat posed by the institutions from abroad.

After the Cabinet approved the Foreign Educational Institution (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill, 2010, these institutions appeared upbeat about prospects of entry of foreign universities in India.

"At the level of IITs, we welcome such a move. We have no apprehension about the entry of such institutions," Prof Gautam Baruah, Director IIT Guwahati, told PTI.

As apprehensions have been raised over the possibility of IIT and IIM faculty joining the foreign institutions, he said, some faculty may join them but majority would prefer to continue with the IITs.

"Money is not the only matter which would attract the faculty. A right environment is important. It takes huge time and effort in setting up an institute of IIT standards. It will take years for them to come to that level," he said.

"There may be some faculty who will join the foreign institutions. But that will not be an issue," Baruah added.

IIM Lucknow Director Prof Devi Singh said it is a good move and will help bring internationally reputed education providers to India.

"It is important that the foreign institutions entering India offer the same degrees and diplomas that they are offering back home. This will help ensure that the certification provided by them in India will have the same value internationally as their current qualification," Singh said.

They need to follow the same curriculum and quality of education which they provide in their own countries, he said.

Delhi University vice chancellor Prof Deepak Pental said there is nothing to worry about the entry of foreign institutions to India.

"This will help Indian institutions to come up to global education standard. Indian institutions have better human resource and the government is supporting quiet well," he said.

Pental did not rule out some faculty joining the foreign institutions. "But I do not see very big research taking place in the new foreign institutions to be set up in India. Most of them may come in subjects like management and law. I do not think they will be interested to come in Science and
Technology," Pental said.

Private institutions like Indian School of Business welcomed the move.