SPPU set to play key role in HRD ministry’s new education policy

To achieve this end, SPPU is hosting the biggest joint consultation meet on September 4-5.

Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), which holds the unique distinction of having the highest number of foreign students in the country, has been chosen by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to take a leading role in the consultative process for formation of it’s new education policy, as far as the theme of internationalisation of higher education in India is concerned.

To achieve this end, SPPU is hosting the biggest joint consultation meet on September 4-5, which will be attended by MHRD officials, the vice-chairman of University Grants Commission, representatives from Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and various foreign consulates besides vice-chancellors of more than 75 universities across the country.

“We have invited foreign delegates to learn from the best practices abroad. We will deliberate on issues of equivalence in degrees, student-faculty exchange programmes and other issues,” said SPPU vice-chancellor W N Gade.

Asked on what are the broad themes which will be discussed at the meet, he said that discussions would focus on how academic considerations should not get displaced by commercial interests, balancing the demands from domestic and from foreign students, ensuring a strong mechanism of accreditation and quality assurance, protecting Indian varsities from unhealthy competition from foreign universities etc.

“We will discuss solutions on how state universities can take in 10 per cent international students, do they have adequate ranking and diversity and more such issues,” added Gade.

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