“Tamil Nadu is not looking for foreign universities simply to add campuses but to connect global academic capability with the talent base, industrial scale, research ecosystem and emerging knowledge economy,” said a source from state industries department. The high GER means foreign universities are entering an established higher education market with substantial student demand. The state also recorded the second largest gross state domestic product, among top three in terms of most industrial sectors and also ranks high in social indicators.
Linking colleges with local industries
Tamil Nadu has already articulated the Knowledge City concept around international universities, research hubs, skill centres and knowledge-based industries. The policy envisions universities alongside Research and Development (R&D) centres, skills training centres and knowledge-based industries.
According to the source, foreign universities can create impact in many ways. The direct impact comes in the form of faculty and academic employment, administrative and professional jobs, campus operations and construction and infrastructure investment. In terms of research, the benefits come in the form of joint R&D, sponsored research, industry-funded projects and creating PhD and research talent. The initiative can also create impact in terms of entrepreneurship through incubation, technology commercialisation, student/faculty startups and creating venture capital and investor activity. In addition, it can also create wider benefits in segments like housing, transport and hospitality and pave way for more international conferences and events.
Already the state is seeing the benefits accrue. University of Western Australia Chennai project has reportedly invested Rs 125 crore and created more than 200 direct and indirect employment opportunities in the Velachery campus. “The objective is to move from university near industry to university working with industry. Tamil Nadu already has established industrial clusters where universities can work with OEMs, suppliers and technology companies,” said the source.
“The state government is also hoping that the foreign campuses become research centres for strategic sectors, which is one of the main reasons for attracting them. The knowledge city is born out of that. It will bridge industries, testing, R&D, academia, learning and development (skilling & upskilling),” the sources added.
More Than Just Good Offers
Tamil Nadu is actively marketing the state as a destination for transnational education. At the same time, there is stiff competition from other larger states too. “Tamil Nadu is competing on ecosystem depth and long-term academic–industry opportunity, not only on incentives,” sources said. Presence of research ecosystem with IIT Madras, Anna University, industry linked R&D infrastructure and the Knowledge City will be the key differentiators. While academic recognition and regulatory approval remain governed by the appropriate national framework, the state can make establishment easier.
It will be interesting to see how the state capitalises on the trend of foreign universities entering India and whether it can replicate the success similar to attracting international industrial investments.