NITI Aayog today launched a comprehensive policy report titled ‘Internationalisation of Higher Education in India: Prospects, Potential, and Policy Recommendations’. The report was released by the senior leadership of NITI Aayog including Shri Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, Dr. V.K.Paul, Member (Education), Dr. Arvind Virmani, Member, and Shri B.V.R.Subrahmanyam, CEO. Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, and Prof. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE also participated in the report launch.

The report, an outcome of a collaborative endeavour between NITI Aayog and an IIT Madras led consortium of knowledge partners, is a pioneering publication in the Global South. It focuses on ‘internationalisation at home’ as envisioned in NEP 2020. It examines approaches to internationalisation at the global, national, and institutional levels, along with temporal trends in academic mobility over the last 20 years. The report explores opportunities for enhanced student and faculty mobility, greater international academic and research collaborations, and the potential of establishing international branch campuses in India and campuses of Indian public and private universities overseas.

The report draws on extensive qualitative and quantitative analysis, including responses from 160 Indian HEIs across 24 States to a comprehensive survey comprising 100+ questions, and perspectives, ideas, and experiences from 140 national and international participants at a National Workshop organised at IIT Madras earlier this year. Key Informant Interviews were also conducted with experts from 30 international institutions across 16 countries, providing global perspectives.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Suman Bery said that there is a business case and a diplomatic case for promoting internationalisation of higher education in India, especially as an instrument of soft power.

Dr. Paul positioned the report in the context of NEP implementation and India's vision for Viksit Bharat 2047. He envisaged that India must target to host 1 lakh international students across Central and State Universities by 2030.

Dr. Virmani observed that international students who have benefitted from the Indian system can contribute to the growth of India and the world. He emphasised the need to strengthen India’s doctoral programmes through greater international collaborations.

Shri B.V.R.Subrahmanyam highlighted the many positive outcomes of internationalising the higher education system of the world’s 4th largest economy. It can improve the quality of courses and curriculum within Indian universities, have a positive effect in reducing forex outflow, and provide greater opportunities for research partnerships. He underscored the role of private universities in furthering internationalisation, the opportunity to leverage the 3.5 crore strong Indian diaspora, and the need for the government to play a catalytic role through ease of regulation. 

Dr. Vineet Joshi said that for India to be a global hub of higher education, public and private universities need to work in tandem. Initiatives under NEP are the starting point, and UGC Regulations have been facilitators in attracting nearly 13 international universities to India. He expressed immense appreciation for the quality of the report and said that the 76 action pathways stated therein provide a robust roadmap to achieve the internationalisation targets of 2047.

AICTE Chairman Prof. Sitharam observed that India must become a talent magnet and attract more students from the Global South to its high quality programmes in engineering, technology, and management.

The Report presents 22 Policy Recommendations, 76 Action Pathways, 125 Performance Success Indicators, along with nearly 30 Indian and Global Practices currently pursued. The recommendations are aimed at improving 5 thematic areas including Strategy, Regulation, Finance, Branding, Communication & Outreach, and Curriculum & Culture for making India the global hub of higher education and research by 2047.

The policy report can be accessed at: https://niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-12/Internationalisation_of_Higher_Education_in_India_Report.pdf

The policy brief can be accessed at: https://niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-12/Internationalisation_of_Higher_Education_in_India_Policy_Brief.pdf

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