The best way to gauge the reach and influence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign in higher education is perhaps to look at how some of the foreign universities and global honchos have responded to the campaign.
Australia-based Deakin University, one of the oldest to set up an India office, was the first to show a keen interest in being a part of the campaign. Its vice-chancellor Jane den Hollander announced over $A10 million in research initiatives in crucial areas, along with various academic, corporate and research partners in India.
“It was late Mr. Alfred Deakin’s (after whom the Australian university is named) dream that the students from Australia and India traverse international borders and form lasting intellectual partnerships. With Mr. Modi’s vision for intellectual partnerships, we find that the two prime ministers in different time share the same vision,” said Hollander.
For others, especially representatives of universities from Japan and France that sought out Indian talent to study in their campuses, the campaign turned out to be a rallying point on how their institutions could impart the much needed skill enhancement in one of the 25 sectors that have been identified as a part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The focus was on how foreign-educated Indian graduates could come back after their higher studies and find jobs in companies that are investing in India.
Similarly, France, which funds over 300 meritorious Indian students every year with help of French companies, wants the French-educated graduates to come back and work for their companies investing in India.
“France is keen to attract Indian students and give them all possible options upon graduation, says Arnaud Mentré, First Counsellor, French Embassy.
“Indian students with French degrees are much sought after by French companies in both France and India,” he further added.
[“source-dailymail.co.uk”]
