Internationalizing Higher Education: EdifyOnline and AIU Unveil New Report

The IHE Report offers a holistic, affordable, and scalable approach to internationalizing Indian Higher Education Institutions.

Key Highlights:

• EdifyOnline (USA) and Association of Indian Universities (AIU, India) launch the Internationalizing Higher Education (IHE) Report.
• The report aims to bridge gaps and offer a ‘shared ecosystem’ for globalizing Indian campuses.
• The University Cluster Pilot Study (UCPS) introduces a scalable model for international collaboration.

The Internationalizing Higher Education (IHE) Report, a collaborative initiative by EdifyOnline (USA) and the Association of Indian Universities (AIU, India), has been unveiled to support future researchers and postdoctoral students in making Indian universities globally competitive. The report addresses the challenges and opportunities faced by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and proposes a holistic, affordable, and scalable pathway for internationalization.

At the AIU ‘Central Zone Vice Chancellors Meet’ on February 25, 2025, at KIIT, Bhubaneshwar, Prof. (Dr.) Achyuta Samanta, founder of KIIT, inspired the audience with his story of building the university with limited resources in 1992 to now serving over 100,000 students. Prof. (Dr.) Saranjit Singh, Vice-Chancellor of KIIT, emphasized the need for education to go beyond boundaries for learners’ benefit.

Prof. (Dr.) Vinay Kumar Pathak, President of AIU and Vice-Chancellor of CSJMU, Kanpur, highlighted the importance of embracing innovative collaboration models and emerging technologies to enhance India’s position in the global knowledge economy. Dr. Pankaj (Mrs.) Mittal, Secretary General of AIU, called for collaboration among researchers, professors, and leaders to benefit policymakers and higher education leaders.

Anil P. Agarwal, founder of EdifyOnline, explained that the key takeaway of the IHE Report is the development of a ‘shared ecosystem’ through the University Cluster Pilot Study (UCPS). This initiative will help create an organic, holistic, and catalytic approach to internationalizing education. Vikram Agarwal, co-founder and CEO of EdifyOnline, added that the insights from 210 HEIs across India provided valuable input to the report. He also announced EdifyOnline’s Noodle Learning Platform, which will enable centralized global lecturing in compliance with Indian accreditation frameworks.

Dr. Amarendra Pani, joint director of research at AIU, led the project with Anil P. Agarwal, Dr. Mohammad Ilyas, and Dr. Ruchi Payal. The IHE Report’s proposed approach focuses on scalability, affordability, and holistic solutions to address the internationalization challenges faced by Indian HEIs.

John Katzman, CEO of Noodle, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, emphasizing the platform’s ability to help universities deliver world-class education at reduced costs through collaboration and innovative technology.

The IHE Report sets the stage for a transformative shift in Indian higher education by leveraging international partnerships, advanced learning platforms, and collaborative ecosystems. It aligns with India’s aspirations to become a global leader in education by fostering an inclusive and forward-thinking academic environment.