IIFT to Set Up First Overseas Campus in Dubai

1. Recently, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) has announced the establishment of its 1st overseas campus in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
2. The move reflects India’s push to globalise higher education, in line with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
    

About IIFT
 

1. Established: 1963, as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
2. Status: Deemed-to-be University.
3. Campuses: New Delhi Campus , Kolkata Campus, Kakinada Campus.
   1. Headquarters and main campus in New Delhi.
4. Focus Areas: International Business, Trade Policy, Economics, and Global Commerce.
5. Academic Offerings:
   1. MBA in International Business
   2. MA in Economics (specialisation in Trade & Finance)
   3. Executive Diplomas for working professionals
   4. Doctoral programmes in Management

 

What are the key Highlights of the Dubai Campus Initiative ?
 

1. First foreign campus since IIFT's establishment.
2. Received approvals from:
   1. Ministry of Education
   2. Ministry of External Affairs
   3. Ministry of Home Affairs
   4. University Grants Commission (UGC)
3. Awaiting final permissions from the UAE government.
4. The Dubai campus will offer full-time degree and executive programmes designed to Gulf and global market needs.
5. The new centre is expected to uphold IIFT's academic rigor and serve the Indian diaspora and international students
    

Government Assurances
 

1. The Ministry of Education clarified that:
   1. There will be no diversion of faculty, infrastructure, or financial resources from IIFT’s Indian campuses.
   2. The domestic academic ecosystem will remain unaffected.

 

Policy and Strategic Significance
 

A. Alignment with NEP 2020

1. National Education Policy 2020 highlights two dimensions of internationalisation:
   1. Indian HEIs setting up campuses abroad.
   2. Foreign HEIs establishing campuses in India.
2. Aims to position India as a global knowledge hub.

B. Education as Soft Power

1. Strengthens India’s academic diplomacy and soft power projection.
2. Promotes India’s education model globally, fostering goodwill and cultural influence.

C. Strategic Trade-Education Linkages

1. IIFT’s focus on international trade aligns with India’s foreign policy and economic diplomacy.
2. Creates a talent pool trained in trade, policy, and commerce relevant to regional dynamics.
    

Comparative Developments

 

Institution	Location	Year	Significance
IIT Madras	Zanzibar, Tanzania	2023	India’s 1st IIT campus abroad (AI and Data Science)
IIM Ahmedabad	Dubai (planned)	2025	1st IIM expanding overseas
Deakin University (Australia)	GIFT City, Gujarat	2023	1st foreign university campus in India
VIT University	Dubai	2017	Offers engineering and business programmes
SP Jain Global	Dubai, Singapore, Sydney	Ongoing	Indian-origin private business school with global campuses

What are the Challenges in Internationalisation of Indian HEIs
 

1. Regulatory Complexity: Multiple-layered clearances deter fast implementation.
2. Faculty Brain Drain: Attractive overseas postings may lead to talent migration from Indian campuses.
3. Cultural & Linguistic Barriers: Institutions may struggle to adapt to diverse cultural settings abroad.
4. Limited Foreign HEIs in India: Despite NEP 2020, no Ivy League university has opened a campus in India yet.
    

Way Forward

1. Single-Window Clearance: Streamline regulatory approvals for overseas campuses.
2. Public-Private Partnerships: Encourage collaboration between government and private players for global expansion
3. Faculty Retention Policies: Offer incentives to retain talent in domestic campuses.
4. Global Curriculum Development: Align offerings with global standards and industry needs.

 

About the Emirate of Dubai :  Dubai is one of the seven Emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The seven Emirates are: Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai, Umm al-Qaywayn, Ras al-Khaimah, Ajman, and Al-Fujayrah. Capital of Dubai: Dubai City. Current Ruler: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Dubai is among the wealthiest Emirates and is known for its modern infrastructure, financial openness, and luxury lifestyle. Unlike Abu Dhabi, Dubai's economy is not oil-dependent. Its key sectors include trade, real estate, investment, tourism, logistics, and finance. Often compared with Singapore and Hong Kong for its business-friendly environment and global connectivity.

 

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