1) India Advisory Panel: India is fast changing and to keep pace with this an India Advisory Panel has been set up to discuss specific approaches and developments related to the Education UK Partnership in India. For information on the panel members click here
To access the minutes of the first meeting that was held at the British Council in Manchester on 12 June 2008 click here

2) Pre-departure briefings:Education UK is organising pre-departure briefings across nine cities in India in the months of July and August 2008 for prospective students who are beginning term at an UK institution in September 2008. The briefings will be held in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Kochi, Coimbatore and Vijaywada.

The pre-departure briefings cover advice on student visa application and immigration, travel, settling down in the UK, accommodation, working part-time, health and finances. Prospective students also get an opportunity to meet Indian students who are currently studying in the UK or have recently completed their education.

We would be grateful if you could pass on this information to your prospective students. If you have any alumni based in the cities mentioned above who would be happy to share their experiences about the time they spent in the UK. do ask them to get in touch with us as well.
For details about the dates and venues read on

3) India Partnership meeting: The India Partnership meet will be held in London on Friday, 5 September 2008.
The venue will be Chelsea College of Art & Design at Millbank. The registration procedure and programme will be circulated shortly.

4) India Exhibition November 2008: Education UK Exhibition India in November 2008 is now open for recruitment. You can find more details about the exhibition and apply online at http://www.britishcouncil.org/eumd-exhibitions-india-2008-november.htm

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1) Indian Government to increase the number of top institutions and upgrade higher education: In an effort to rectify its once-renowned education system, and the lack of higher learning institutions contributing to an acute shortage of skilled manpower, the Indian government is looking to start nine new Indian Institutes of Technologies (IITs) this year, to add to the existing seven. Eight new IITs, regarded as among the top schools in the world, are proposed for Rajasthan, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Punjab provinces. Additionally, Benaras Hindu University will be converted into a full-fledged IIT. More than 90% of Indian students seeking admissions in the most desired IITs and IIMs are rejected due to capacity constraints, according to a 2008 report by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). Forty percent of those who fail to qualify pay to study abroad, the report said. About 450,000 Indian students are spending over US$13 billion on higher education abroad.
For more information click on

2) University Grants Commission puts forward a mega expansion plan for higher education to increase the gross enrolment ratio:
Mega expansion of the education sector is in the offing in India with moves to establish 30 universities and enhance the infrastructure of existing institutions during the 11th Plan. The action plan prepared by the University Grants Commission will increase the gross enrolment ratio (GER). For the proposed 16 central universities, concept paper and draft bill is ready. Similarly for the 14 world class universities, a committee has been set up to prepare concept paper and the draft bill. Detailed project reports for the proposed 370 colleges are in the final stage. Special development grants will be provided to these institutions. Besides this, UGC has earmarked Rs 870 crore for expanding the infrastructure in the existing over 20 Central universities.
For more information click on

3) IIM-A gets international European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) accreditation: Leading international accreditation body for international business schools, European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) has accredited the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A). So far, IIM-A is the only business school in India to obtain international accreditation. Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad is one among 113 EQUIS-recognized schools from 33 countries to have attained international accreditation. While accrediting management schools, EQUIS looks for balance between high academic quality and the professional relevance provided by close interaction with the corporate world.
For more information click on

4) Maharashtra Government to split Nagpur, Pune and Mumbai varsities: The Maharashtra Government has decided to provide individual identities to the three top state universities: University of Mumbai, University of Pune and University of Nagpur. The three leading state centers of learning will be split as it was felt that these institutions were too large to function effectively as a single unit. After the separation, each university is to have two chapters:
i) University of Mumbai (Mumbai) and the University of Mumbai (Konkan)
ii) Pune University (Pune) and Pune University (Ahmednagar)
Additionally, Nagpur University too will have two chapters.
For more information click on

5) Indian nationals studying in foreign schools find it difficult on their return to India for further studies: For Indians studying in schools abroad, coming back to the mainstream in the Indian education system can be a problem. Since these students study different combination of subjects in foreign schools, more than often they do not meet the eligibility criteria and it becomes tough for them to get the course of their choice in an Indian University. Many such students, who have completed their schooling in countries like UAE, USA, Japan, Malaysia and Nepal, now find themselves at the office of Dean of Students' Welfare (DSW) at DU, seeking help to mix-and-match their school subjects so that they can be eligible for the course of their choice.
For more information click on

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1) Canada must attract India's students to fulfil labour shortages: Canada has become an increasingly popular destination for foreign students, particularly due to changes to work permits for international students studying at a Canadian institution. It is estimated that that over 60 000 international students came to Canada last year and this year these numbers are set to grow. Canada wants to attract foreign students; therefore they now give international students a three year work permit if they have graduated from a qualifying Canadian institution. This will give foreigners essential work experience and at the same time contribute to Canada's labour shortages. However, it seems that the Canadian government has not yet tapped into the highly sought after Indian market. India is a great source of skilled immigration, especially in Canada, but the number of Indians coming to Canada to study is still low. Indian High Commissioner RL Narayan emphasized that Indians provide skills in areas such as IT and engineering, which are in demand in Canada, therefore talent from these sectors needed to be sourced.
For more information click on:

2) 38% rise in Indian students going to US: USA continues to grow in standing as the most-favoured destination for Indian students with the last seven months showing a 38% increase in the number of candidates going there. Also worth observing is that Chennai seems to be one of the largest contributors. 38,274 student visas were issued from across the country in fiscal year 2006-07 (October 2006 to September 2007), of which the Chennai consulate gave out 19,973. Correspondingly, between October 2007 and April 2008, 50,316 student visas were issued from across the country, of which the Chennai consulate alone accounted for 24,975. The increase in the flow of Indian students could also be reasoned to America now accepting the three-year bachelor degree programme as a valid one for entry to their graduate schools. The change in rule was targeted towards opening the doors of higher studies in American varsities to a massive Indian pool of BA, BCom, BSc degree holders. For more information click on:

3) Microsoft to invest $20 mn in Indian education sector: Microsoft India, on Wednesday, announced an added investment of $20 mn in the Indian education sector over the next five years. The company plans this investment as part of its global education program,`Partners in Learning', that provides the education sector with opportunities to attain its full potential. As part of its expansion of `Partners in Learning' project in India, Microsoft plans to focus on three core programmes – Innovative teachers, Innovative students and Innovative schools. The company plans to revamp the Indian education sector by introducing `Interactive Classroom Teaching' in the Government schools. To mark a beginning Microsoft would be training 50,000 teachers in IT skills under their flagship program `Project Shiksha'.
For more information click on

4) IBR Institute of International Business Relations, Germany to start global MBA course in India: The IBR Institute of International Business Relations, a business school at Steinbeis University in Germany, would start its global MBA programme in India from September 2008. IBR, which focuses exclusively on post-graduate studies, offers executive education of a high quality. IBR's global MBA has been accredited by the German, Swiss and Austrian industries. The announcement of commencement of the institute's India operations in Hyderabad was made by Andreas Kelling, founder director of IBR Institute of International Business Relations. The programme seeks to create tangible benefits for participants and their companies. Students become business consultants to their own companies. They analyse their companies and business environments in depth in order to produce management reports with precise suggestions for improvements.
For more information click on

5) 164 Indians get the European Union's Erasmus Mundus scholarships: The European Union's Erasmus Mundus scholarships for the academic year 2008-09 have been given to 2,000 students and 450 teachers from outside Europe, of which 164 have been selected from India. The scholarships allow students to study in Europe for one or two years and obtain a Master's degree from one of the 103 Erasmus Mundus masters courses offered by the Consortia of European higher education institutions. One of the characteristic features of the Erasmus Mundus programme is that student grant holders are allowed to follow their courses in at least two universities located in different European countries. This gives them an opportunity to learn about European cultures, languages and academic systems as well.
For more information click on

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1) Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai bans foreign internships to help retain graduates: In a move to retain engineering talent in India, one of the country's premier engineering schools has barred its undergraduates from doing research and internships abroad. Undergraduates at the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai must work for an Indian company or research institution as part of their mandatory internship if they want to earn academic credit. More than 60 percent of undergraduates at the institute opt for foreign research and work internships at places like the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Southern California in hopes of smoothing the path to admission at graduate programs abroad or to jobs with foreign companies.
For more information click on

2) India to be a leading engineering services provider: The National Association of Software and Service Companies in Delhi, India's leading IT trade group, commissioned a study by Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. to examine India's potential to gain a larger share of the offshore engineering services business, going beyond software engineering. Industries being considered include automotive, aerospace, utilities, construction and industrial ones. As per the Booz Allen report, India has tremendous potential to provide engineering services, but it also details two problems the country has to address to make it happen: the quality of its infrastructure, including ports, roads, airports and telecom, and the quality of its education. Today, about 35,000 engineers in India work in engineering services, but by 2020, the country will need as many as 250,000 to reach its potential as an engineering services provider.
For more information click on

3) Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management Shillong will begin its first academic session in July 2008: The seventh Indian Institute of Management will begin its first academic session on July 4, 2008 from a temporary campus in Shillong that previously housed the North Eastern Hill University. Prof Ashok Kumar Dutta, formerly associated with Calcutta based Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM) has been appointed as the director of the RG-IIM Shillong. While the post-graduate diploma course in business management will begin with an annual intake of 60 students in the first two years, this will be doubled in the third year and increased by another 60 in the sixth. The process of admission is currently in process. It is learnt that the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) is helping RG-IIM in the admission process. Apart from the management programme, the institute proposes to offer a fellowship programme in management, apart from management development programmes and courses in tourism and hospitality management.
For more information click on

4) Research with industry can help engineering and science grow: After the planned new institutions are in place - the Indian Government will need to address issues such as class room usage, faculty time, making use of PG students for grading, tutorials, restructuring the curriculum to eliminate outdated courses etc. Currently, owing to the lack of good higher education institutions, a large number of qualified students are still left out of the elite system. There is clear evidence now that with the IT industry and Pharma industry in a rapid growth mode, students in tier 2 schools do very well in the job sector in India as well post graduate studies abroad. However, there is less interest in Science as well as Engineering careers after the first degree because of the quick and high paying jobs in the IT sector. This issue is important and needs to be addressed. For more information click on

5) Manpower shortage slows down Indian animation industry: The Indian animation industry is expected to double its revenues to nearly $1.5 billion by 2010 but is still weighed down by lack of skilled manpower, mainly due to lack of facilities and preference for traditional career options. At the close of 2009, the industry will require at least 25,000 more trained hands to fill the gap and by the year 2012, the industry will have room to accommodate 300,000 professionals, if not more. At present only a little over 10,000 professionals are working in this techno-creative field. Although there are about 500 private animation-training institutes, apart from a few government-run colleges having animation curriculum, India, as of today, has only a handful of institutes teaching high-end animation techniques.
For more information click on

6) Career options in Nanotechnology gaining popularity : India's reputation as a centre of scientific excellence is growing and this means that career options in research and development (R&D) are increasing. One such field that is gaining popularity is nanotechnology. With the international market for nanotech products and applications projected to grow in the next decade to over $600 billion annually, India is poised for a bright future in R&D. The Government of India launched a Nano Mission. The Department of Science and Technology is the nodal agency for implementing the Mission. Under this programme, a good number of research projects have been granted to scientists and research institutions. Career options in nano science and technology are directly linked to the recent boom in industrialisation. Well-known enterprises in the fields of automotives, electronics, aerospace, defense or health are actively involved in R&D. The country is emerging as a manufacturing hub due to the availability of qualified manpower and skills. The Government of India has given permission to 11 universities and institutions in the country to start nono courses from this session. Out of these, three universities will start an M.Sc nano course, whereas others will start an M.Tech nano science and technology course.
For more information click on

7) Increasing number of students opt for Open Learning: Long considered a last recourse, Open Learning is now becoming a preferred choice for many students this admission season. The Delhi University's School of Open Learning (SOL) has been selling admission forms and prospectus simultaneously with regular colleges from the first day of admission. SOL has sold 10,000 admission forms and prospectus. Looking at the increasing popularity of the school among students, SOL has also made its admission forms available online. SOL has also received applications from students with high percentages. This new trend is attributed to the new generation making strategic moves in terms of their future career prospects. There are many students who do not want to spend their three years in a regular course. There are three types of students who are opting for Open Learning. The first category is of those who want to work while studying. The second category consists of students who want to pursue a professional course simultaneously like CA. And third category is of those with low percentage who are not getting admission into regular college.
For more information click on

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Promotional Visits:
If you are visiting India for a promotional visit through one of our offices or your agent, you may send us the details for the same. We offer a free listing on our Education UK India website to India Partnership institutions.
Please send the details to- moneesha.gupta@in.britishcouncil.org
Click here to download the format for sending the details.