Global disruptions to help Indian higher education sector to grow, attract foreign students: QS CEO
As the Union Education Ministry claimed major improvement in the country's higher education sector citing that Indian institutions have achieved their best-ever performance in the World University Rankings 2026, conducted by British company Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the chief executive officer (CEO) of QS, Jessica Turner, has told The Hindu in an online interview that India can benefit from the shift in the traditional model of students going abroad to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada or Australia due to various factors such as geopolitical instability, economic pressures, Artificial Intelligence and visa restrictions. She welcomed the decision to allow foreign universities to set up campuses in India and said it will invite students worldwide to India. Excerpts from the interview:
How do you assess the performance of Indian higher education institutions in the latest QS ranking?
This year, India performed exceptionally in the QS Rankings — eight new institutions entered, the highest from any country. Over the last decade, India's representation grew by 390%, overtaking Germany to become the fourth most represented country (after the US, UK, and China). We've seen a holistic rise in India's higher education landscape, with more institutions participating globally. About 48% of Indian institutions improved in ranking, while only 24% declined — a strong performance compared to other countries with large numbers of ranked institutions.
Key drivers include improved employer reputation, employment outcomes, and increased research — especially among IITs. The focus on employability and research aligns with India's economic growth. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has been instrumental in driving internationalization and raising quality.
Based on the points earned in the ranking in different criteria, which are the areas where the Indian institutions can improve performance in future?
Rankings are relative and a dynamic exercise. A fall doesn't mean decline — it may indicate slower progress compared to peers. In areas like international student and faculty ratios, Indian institutions lag. For instance, 78% declined in the international student metric. The faculty-student ratio is also a challenge due to rapid enrolment growth. The 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio target stretches resources, making it hard to match global faculty availability.
Citations per faculty is a lagging metric. The improvements seen now reflect research-oriented reforms made over the last 5–10 years — not just in IITs but also in technical institutions under AICTE. These reforms created a more research-intensive environment, and that's finally being reflected in our rankings.
Question: Mostly, engineering and technology institutions from India have come up in the rankings. What does this indicate?
India's top-ranking institutions are primarily in engineering and technology. These excel in 'Employer Reputation' and 'Citations per Faculty', suggesting strong graduate employability and impactful research. Eight Indian institutions now rank in the global top 100 for research impact—seven are IITs. This demonstrates where international partners are increasingly seeking collaboration.
Question: India has now allowed foreign universities to open their campuses in India. How do you see this policy change? And will the global disruptions bring major changes in the higher education sector globally?
Internationalisation efforts like joint degree programmes, exchange initiatives, and collaborative research will improve long-term outcomes. These efforts, supported by NEP reforms, are expected to attract more international students and researchers to India. India is also in a strong position to fill global research gaps — particularly as funding declines in countries like the US. Indian institutions offer high-quality, cost-effective research collaboration opportunities.
The traditional model — students going abroad to the US, UK, Canada, or Australia — is shifting. Geopolitical instability, economic pressures, AI, and visa restrictions are prompting more hybrid models. Students may now complete parts of their degree at home and travel less.
This shift supports joint, online, and blended programs. We also expect regional hubs (e.g., UAE, Singapore, Malaysia) to attract more students due to affordability and English-language programs. These destinations provide high-quality education at lower costs.
India can benefit from this shift. It can position itself as a destination for international students, especially from Africa and Central Asia. The NEP lays a strong legislative foundation, and now the focus must be on removing operational barriers (e.g., visa issues) to fully enable internationalisation.
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