Foreign universities in India is a good sign

DHARWAD: Prof Mithileshwar Jha of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM-B) has supported the government’s decision to permit foreign varsities to set up their branches in India.Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the two-day National-level Management fest at Kousali Institute of Management Studies (KIMS) in Dharwad on Sunday, he said : “Foreign universities entering India will not affect the existence of the State varsities, in fact on the contrary the State varsities will certainly try to raise their standard of teaching by imparting need-based education.” Denying the fear of few scholars and thinkers that the move of the government too pass the ‘Foreign Varsity Bill’, will make the state varsities suffer due to stiff competition from them, he said on the contrary this will attract large section of students. Pointing out at the fact that the response to the higher education in India was quite poor, he stated that a mere 14 per cent  of the entire students population enrolled for varsities. “The entrance of foreign varsities can certainly overcome this shortfall and enhance the enrolment for higher education”, he hoped.“Strict rules regarding the selection of quality varsities should be made and those university having universal reputation should only be allowed to enter”, he opined.