SEP Commission opposes foreign universities setting up campuses in Karnataka

The Hindu

a day ago

State Education Policy (SEP) Commission chairman Sukhadeo Thorat told The Hindu that the commission in its report submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday, had opposed allowing foreign universities directly setting up their campuses in Karnataka.
'We are not in favour of foreign universities opening their campuses in Karnataka. It will not be accessible for the poor and it is very expensive. Therefore, we have favoured institutional collaboration with foreign universities for awarding degrees,' Prof. Thorat said.
The University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, is expected to open its campus in Bengaluru in September 2026. Minister for Large and Medium Industries M.B. Patil earlier this year said that University of East London, York University, and University of Wolverhampton have expressed keen interest in Karnataka's KWIN City initiative.
Several other foreign universities from Australia, United States of America, and Italy are also said to be keen to establish their campuses in Karnataka.
Instead, the SEP Commission has recommended accessible online education for all students, increasing the job oriented course in all streams of education, and introducing new courses on emerging technologies like quantum computing, Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, nano science in technical education.
Low GER in Karnataka
Prof. Thorat expressed concern over low gross enrollment ratio (GER) for higher education. 'GER in Karnataka for higher education is about 30% to 35%, ranking ninth among States in GER, while it ranks second in per capita income. So we need to look at other reasons for low GER,' he said.
'Regional disparity is one among the major reasons for this lower GER. Kalyana Karnataka has a GER in the range of 20-25%, while GER in coastal and inland Karnataka is around 37%. There are seven or eight districts with GER less than 20%. We have suggested measures to improve GER in Kalyana Karnataka,' Prof. Thorat said.
The commission has found low GER in disadvantaged communities. 'Poor coverage of post-matric scholarship, financial assistance is one of the reasons for low GER in these communities. In the case of SCs and STs, the income limit is very low compared to others. Even with ₹2.5 lakh of annual income, so many students are deprived of scholarships. Meanwhile, income limit for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) students is pegged at ₹8 lakh and for OBCs at ₹6 lakh per annum. Therefore, we have suggested income limit exemption up to ₹10 lakh for SC and ST students,' he said.
Prof. Thorat further said that they have recommended that the government should provide free education for rural girls, along with other financial incentives to reduce their domestic work, not to go for early marriages etc.
'We have also recommended some incentives to married women as well,' he said.
The SEP Commission has also recommended setting up of a Finance Corporation, under the PPP mode which will give education loans.
According to the SEP report, higher educational institutions in Karnataka are not performing well. 'In the national ranking list of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Karnataka's universities and colleges are not doing well. There are very few government colleges that have a NAAC rank. Lack of permanent faculties, low quality of teaching and lack of infrastructure are major reasons for this poor performance. There are about 20,000 teaching posts vacant at government higher educational institutions. Therefore, we have recommended that these posts should be filled within the next five years. In future, there should be no guest faculties in higher educational institutions,' he said.