Foreign varsities in India soon

New Delhi, March 15: The union cabinet Monday cleared a proposal to allow foreign universities to set up campuses in India, a step that is expected to provide quality education in the country and reduce the flow of Indian students abroad.

"This is a milestone, which will enhance choices, increase competition, and benchmark quality," Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"(It's) a larger revolution than even (the one) in the telecom sector," Sibal added.

The bill, which will now be tabled in parliament for its approval, has provisions to regulate the entry and operation of foreign institutions, which will set up campus and offer degrees in India.

Thousands of Indian students go to the US, Britain and Australia among other countries, every year, to study in foreign universities. The effort is part of the central government's continued focus on education reform.

Sibal, who sounded elated Monday, has been pushing for this since he took over the ministry last year. The minister, too, has been in touch with several top universities in the US and Britain about such a move.

Welcoming the move, Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow, director, Devi Singh said: "It is a good move and will help bring internationally reputed education providers to India."

"However, 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 qualifications," Singh added.

This will help ensure Indian students access the same curriculum and quality of education that these institutions provide in their own countries, he added.

Among the foreign universities likely to set up shop in India are Boston University, Harvard and Yale University from the US.