In order to highlight the developments and opportunities in the Indian higher education sector for possible cooperation between Kuwait and India, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait hosted a conference titled “India’s Higher Education Landscape.” Lana Othman Al-Ayyar, CEO of Al Rayan Holding Co., was the main guest. Ms. Nourah Al Ghanim, the Chairperson of the Kuwaiti Union of Private Schools, was the honored guest.

Speaking at the event were Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, Executive Director of QS World University Rankings and author of the book “India’s Knowledge Supremacy: The New Dawn,” Dr. Ramakrishna Raman, Vice Chancellor of Symbiosis International University, Pune, and Dr. Adarsh Swaika, Ambassador of India to Kuwait. These individuals provided insight into a number of important areas related to higher education in India.

India’s educational system has undergone tremendous change thanks in large part to the New Education Policy 2020. The value of the Indian education sector is predicted to soar from USD 117 billion to USD 313 billion by FY30, making India a major hub for global education. India has one of the biggest higher education systems in the world, with a vast network that includes 45,000 degree institutions, more than 1000 universities, and over 1500 top institutes. India’s dominance in the Ed-Tech space is demonstrated by the fact that seven of the 36 Ed-Tech unicorns—whose combined valuation as of June 2022 was USD 34.05 billion—are Indian. India’s education sector has been fully accessible to foreign direct investment (FDI) via an automatic channel, and from April 2000 and September 2023, FDI totaled USD 9.3 billion.

In addition, India has 45 institutions in the QS World ranking and stands out on the QS Asia list with the most universities (148) of any Asian nation. The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) aim established by the Indian government is a lofty 50% by 2035. In addition, India is home to 25% of all students worldwide, demonstrating the country’s significant influence in the global education system at a time when Indian universities are becoming more globally recognized. Prominent examples of this include the opening of campuses overseas by esteemed universities like Amity University (Dubai), Birla Institute of Technology (Pilani), and Indian Institutes of Technology (Abu Dhabi and Tanzania), among others.

In addition, India leads the world in research paper publication in international journals and patent registration. Prominent universities such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (in Tanzania and Abu Dhabi), Birla Institute of Technology, Pilani, and Amity University (in Dubai), Sharda and Sambroom Universities (in Uzbekistan), etc., are effectively establishing campuses overseas.

International colleges, including as Deakin University, are establishing IBC in Gujarat’s GIFT city. India is one of the top nations for submitting patent applications and publishing academic research in foreign publications. The seminar proved beneficial in presenting prospects for increased cooperation between the two nations in the field of education. These included the establishment of Indian university campuses in Kuwait, admission of Kuwaiti students to Indian universities, faculty recruitment, and exchange initiatives between the universities of the two nations. About 350 people attended the event, including representatives from Kuwait University, AUM, Kuwait College of Science and Technology, notable members of the Indian community, principals of Indian and international schools, faculty from other Kuwaiti universities, friends in the media, and instructors have all been involved.