IIFT Vice Chancellors' Conclave 2026: A Platform for Bold Educational Reforms

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, hosted the Vice Chancellors' Conclave 2026 in New Delhi on March 6. Themed 'Reimagining Internationalisation of Higher Education for Viksit Bharat 2047,' the event brought together vice chancellors from across India, policymakers, and experts to discuss strategies for globalizing Indian universities and colleges. Union Minister Piyush Goyal delivered the keynote address, positioning education as a pivotal service sector for India's economic ambitions.

Viksit Bharat 2047 refers to India's national vision of becoming a developed nation by the 100th year of independence in 2047, with higher education playing a central role in building human capital, fostering innovation, and driving exports. The conclave emphasized student mobility, regulatory reforms, dual degree collaborations, and integrating global trends like artificial intelligence (AI) into curricula to prepare students for a technology-driven world.

Piyush Goyal's Vision: Turning Education into India's Next Export Giant

In his address, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal declared that 'education as a service has significant potential to contribute to India’s export earnings and help take high quality Indian education to the rest of the world.' He highlighted how developing nations like India will power global growth, making exposure to Indian perspectives invaluable for students from developed countries.

Goyal pointed to India's nine Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with developed economies, covering nearly two-thirds of global trade, as evidence of India's strengthened negotiating position. He urged higher education institutions (HEIs) to align curricula with international trade, manufacturing, services, and emerging technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and machine learning. 'Students cannot be prepared for the future through outdated curricula,' he stressed, calling on vice chancellors to retrain faculty and modernize facilities.

The minister envisioned reversing the current student mobility imbalance, where 28 Indian students study abroad for every one foreign student in India. His target: attract around 1.3 million inbound students by 2047, transforming India into a global education hub.

The Stark Reality: India's Lopsided Student Mobility Landscape

India currently hosts about 72,000 foreign students from over 200 countries, a modest figure compared to its outbound numbers exceeding 1.8 million in 2025. This makes India the world's largest source of international students, primarily heading to the US, Canada, UK, and Australia. Economic factors, perceived quality gaps, and limited research facilities drive this outflow, costing billions in forex.

Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education stands at around 28-30 percent, with ambitions to reach 50 percent by 2035, requiring 70 million additional seats. Internationalisation 'at home'—bringing global exposure without travel—is key, as per NITI Aayog's recent report.

Government targets include 200,000 annual foreign admissions by 2030, aligning with Viksit Bharat goals. For those seeking opportunities in this evolving sector, platforms like higher ed jobs offer faculty and administrative roles in international programs.

NEP 2020: The Architectural Blueprint for Global Integration

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, crafted after three lakh stakeholder inputs, forms the foundation. It permits foreign universities to establish campuses, enables dual/joint degrees, twinning programs, and faculty exchanges. These reforms aim for multidisciplinary learning, flexibility, and international standards.

Under NEP, UGC regulations allow four collaboration types: credit transfer, joint/dual degrees, twinning, and research partnerships. Examples include IITs' global tie-ups and IIMs' executive programs with overseas peers. Read more on IIT Hyderabad's international initiatives.

Step-by-step process for dual degrees: (1) Institutions sign MoU; (2) UGC approves equivalence; (3) Students enroll concurrently; (4) Credits transfer seamlessly; (5) Dual diplomas awarded upon completion.

Photo by Shreenivas RT on Unsplash

Dual and Joint Degree Programs: Bridging India and the World

Goyal proposed innovative models like a three-year bachelor's with one year in India and two abroad, or equal splits, fostering cultural exchange. Existing examples: IIT Madras-Deakin University dual degrees in data science; IIM Ahmedabad's blended MBA with global partners.

• Benefits: Cost savings (50-70% cheaper than full abroad), diverse exposure, enhanced employability.
• Challenges: Regulatory alignment, quality assurance, visa norms.
• Stakeholder views: VCs welcome but seek faster approvals; students value global networks.

UGC's framework has spurred growth, with over 100 such programs approved. For career advice on navigating these, check higher ed career advice.

Attracting Students from Developed Nations: A Strategic Shift

Traditionally, inbound students hail from neighboring countries (Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh ~60%). Goyal advocates targeting G7 nations for reverse flow, leveraging India's growth story (20% global GDP contribution). Programs in yoga, Ayurveda, and tech could appeal.

Cultural context: India's soft power via Bollywood, cuisine, and democracy draws interest. Case study: University of Southampton's India campus pilots attract 200+ Western students annually.

Foreign University Campuses: Accelerating Global Footprint

NEP enabled 19 foreign campuses by 2026: University of Liverpool (Bengaluru), Western Sydney University (Greater Noida), Illinois Institute of Technology (expected 2027), Deakin and Wollongong in GIFT City. These bring world-class facilities, research, and 20-30% fee savings.

Impacts: Boost GER, create 10,000+ jobs, enhance rankings. Link to full list of 19 campuses.

Challenges, Solutions, and NITI Aayog's Roadmap

Key hurdles: Quality perception, accreditation, visa delays, faculty shortages. NITI's report offers 22 recommendations: integrated campuses, 10-year visas for faculty, 'internationalisation at home' via virtual exchanges.

• Action pathways: 76 steps for MoE, UGC, HEIs.
• Success indicators: 125 metrics like inbound growth rate.
• Expert opinions: Balanced views from VCs on brownfield investments.

Solutions include industry-academia ties for funding. Explore university jobs in these expanding institutions.

Photo by Carolien van Oijen on Unsplash

Future Outlook: India as the Global Education Destination by 2047

By 2047, projections: 1.1-1.3M foreign students, $10B+ education exports, top-10 QS rankings for 20+ Indian unis. Timelines: 200k by 2030, 50% GER by 2035. Stakeholder perspectives: Government pushes FTAs; industry seeks skilled talent; students demand affordability.

Real-world case: IIT Delhi's Anveshan 2026 fair showcases global pathways. Actionable insights: HEIs should audit curricula, partner via UGC portal, market via Study in India campaign.

Position yourself with resources at Rate My Professor, Higher Ed Jobs, and Career Advice. For India-specific opportunities, visit AcademicJobs India.