Abstract

International student mobility is an important indicator of the internationalisation and global competitiveness of higher education systems. India has a rich educational heritage, a large network of higher education institutions and comparatively affordable academic programmes. However, India has not emerged as a major destination for international students to the level achieved by several developed and emerging economies. Over the last few years there has been concern about the declining or stagnant enrolment of foreign students in Indian institutions despite various policy initiatives to promote India as a global education hub. The paper also evaluates the implications of National Education Policy (2020) and Study in India programme in strengthening internationalisation of Indian higher education. The analysis shows that while India has many advantages like cost-effective education, cultural diversity and academic potential, there are structural and administrative issues that come in the way of its global attractiveness. The study points out that to stop the slide in foreign student enrolment and to make India a destination of choice for international education, stress needs to be laid on raising academic standards, enhancing international collaborations, streamlining administrative procedures, buttressing student support systems and improving India’s global branding. The findings can help policymakers, higher education institutions and other stakeholders to develop evidence-based strategies to strengthen India’s international academic presence.