The UK-India universities relationship needs to become more reciprocal, rather than revolving around India sending students to the UK, according to policymakers, diplomats and academics from both countries.

¡°In crucial respects, the bilateral relationship has been something of a disappointment and represents considerable unfulfilled¡­potential,¡± said former minister Lord Johnson of?Marylebone, speaking at an event hosted by the Observer Research Foundation on the publication of his report on?India-UK links in?higher education.

¡°For internationalisation to work, it has to go two ways,¡± said Alex Ellis, British high commissioner to?India.

His counterpart, Gaitri Kumar, high commissioner of India to the UK, echoed the sentiment.

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¡°India would like her partners to consider India as more than just a?market for education,¡± she said. ¡°We seek to forge international knowledge relationships.¡±

She criticised India¡¯s relatively low contribution in bilateral exchange on the Turing scheme, the UK¡¯s answer to the Erasmus student mobility programme.

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Shitij Kapur, president of King¡¯s College London, also noted the ¡°remarkably poor performance¡± of India on the Turing scheme.

¡°We know so much about each other ¨C we even play cricket; I?mean, how many nations play that game?¡± he said, adding that the countries share history and people of joint heritage. ¡°And yet¡­we are so low on that bilateral exchange, and I?think that¡¯s certainly a?wake-up call.¡±

The speakers backed a report recommendation that 20?per cent of Turing scheme funds be committed to supporting student mobility to India from the?UK.

Ms Kumar said creating such a standard would help recognise that India is ¡°one of the most popular destinations for British students at the moment¡±, which is ¡°something that we should work?on¡±.

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She added that another ¡°deterrent that needs to be addressed is the longer and more tedious processes required for visa applications specifically for Indian students aspiring to apply at UK?universities¡±.

Professor Kapur noted that the proportion of Indian students who can access UK education remains very low, including only the wealthiest 2?per cent of India¡¯s population.

¡°We have to find a way how we can merge our expertise¡­with scale¡­because our current model is not extensible if you wish to reach the 98?per?cent.¡±

For UK institutions, the challenge represents an opportunity, he argued.

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¡°What¡¯s in it for the UK is, I?think, we learn how to do what we do better, because¡­our own challenges with educating the breadth of our population haven¡¯t gone away.¡±

pola.lem@timeshighereducation.com