Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal emphasized the potential of education-as-a-service in boosting India’s export earnings and expanding the reach of high-quality Indian education globally. Speaking at the Vice Chancellors’ Conference themed “Reimagining Internationalisation of Higher Education for a Developed India 2047,” Goyal urged proactive collaboration with vice chancellors to shape the future of higher education in India.
Goyal highlighted the National Education Policy 2020, developed through consultations with nearly three lakh stakeholders. He mentioned initiatives allowing international campuses, dual degrees, and cross-border student exchanges. The minister proposed programs enabling foreign students to spend one year in India and two years abroad to enhance their understanding of developing countries’ perspectives.
Encouraging higher education institutions to update curricula, train teachers, and introduce subjects like international trade and India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Goyal aimed to attract around 1.3 million international students to India, balancing the current student exchange ratio. He also noted the increasing recognition of services, including education, in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
Goyal emphasized India’s evolving global engagement strategy, moving away from a colonial mindset to negotiate from a position of strength. He welcomed the efforts of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) and the Ministry of Commerce in exploring the global potential of Indian education. Stressing the importance of understanding global economic opportunities, Goyal highlighted the role of developing countries like India as future growth engines, aligning with India’s vision for a developed nation during the Amrit Kaal.
