The higher education sector is witnessing winds of change globally. Various factors, such as increased international student mobility, focus on skills-based learning, globalisation of higher education institutions, technological advancements, the rise of online education, and frequent changes in immigration policies by some of the popular destination countries, are driving this significant shift. Amidst these, India has emerged as a significant player in the global higher education landscape, both within and outside the country.
According to the Economic Survey 2024-25, India’s higher education system ranks among the largest globally, with over 4 crore students enrolled across more than 1,000 universities. Our country’s demographic dividend, promising education infrastructure, diverse and cost-effective educational offerings, policy reforms, and growing global influence are giving further impetus to reposition the country as a leading international knowledge hub, especially in STEM, management, and arts fields.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has laid the foundation for making India a global knowledge superpower. It provided the much-needed push for setting new benchmarks for quality, relevance, and global competitiveness. Institutions across the spectrum are renewing their curricula and integrating their courses with artificial intelligence, data analytics, and entrepreneurship while instilling the skills of leadership and critical thinking in students. Several Indian institutions, including IITs, IIMs, IISc, and others, are gaining remarkable recognition in top global rankings, which reflects strengthened academic rigour, growing research output, and a strong focus on industry connections and requirements.
The emphasis on internationalisation in NEP 2020 has also served as a key strategy to put the Indian education ecosystem on the world map. Indian institutions are actively partnering with international universities for student and faculty exchanges, joint research, dual degree programmes, and global exposure for students. Thanks to timely and deliberate policy reforms by the Indian government, more and more international universities, including institutions from the US, UK, Australia, and Europe, are eyeing India as a promising destination to open their campuses here and attract the best minds. These suggest a significant shift from India being one of the largest sources of international students to a prominent destination for foreign universities. It has enabled India to retain its talent. The world-class education and career opportunities that were once largely sought abroad are now thriving within India, that too at much lesser costs and richness of cultural diversity, making it an increasingly appealing choice for both domestic and international learners, particularly from South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, among others.
This shift does not just limit to India. Indian institutions are also gaining ground abroad and setting up campuses in various countries, particularly in the Global South. By establishing campuses overseas, Indian institutions offer an excellent opportunity to gain international exposure and experience. The most recent being, IIM Ahmedabad launching a branch campus in Dubai from September 2025. This launch also marks a bold leap by Indian management education into the global market. IIMA’s presence in Dubai will offer unparalleled access to international markets, world-class faculty, and a diverse, high-achieving peer group alongside IIM Ahmedabad’s legacy of academic rigour and international exposure for personal and professional growth.
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Another factor that makes India a strong player in global education is its talent pool. The India Skills Report 2025 shows that the employability rate of Indian graduates has risen from 51.25% in 2024 to 54.81% in 2025. Indian education, especially in STEM and management fields, has produced some of the highly regarded leaders and entrepreneurs of some of the world’s leading technology and business companies, including the World Bank, Google, Microsoft, P&G, Adobe, and many others. The success of Indian-origin CEOs leading these global powerhouses highlights the demand for Indian talent and Indian-style education worldwide.
India is marching forward to lead global education with confidence and a sense of purpose. It is again time for India to earn the reputation of a global knowledge hub and become “Vishwaguru”, as it used to be in ancient times, thanks to its rich intellectual heritage, advanced systems of education, and significant contributions to various fields like mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and philosophy. Just as the quality of education and the depth of knowledge available in universities like Takshashila and Nalanda attracted scholars and students from across the world, the time is ripe to reclaim that stature and solidify India’s prominence as a global centre for learning. The country’s efforts reflect a commitment not only to its learners but also to contributing constructively to the world stage, paving the way for a more inclusive future for students from across the globe.
Views expressed by Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA)
