Education and Entrepreneurship in India New challenges, new opportunities

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1 Sida 1 (5) Växjö Education and Entrepreneurship in India New challenges, new opportunities India-Sweden Relations Ambassador Mrs. Banashri Bose Harrison, Embassy of India in Sweden Interaction leads to learning and learning is not a one-way process. What can be done to bring India and Sweden together? India is seven times the size of Sweden and has 1,2 billion inhabitants (17.3% of the world population). The population is an asset but also a challenge for education. People want economic development and there is an opportunity for Swedish companies to build up infrastructure in India. India and Sweden have lasting faith in relationship where common shared values is the bedrock with respect for liberty and diversity. Particularly since 2004 there have been good solid political relations with Swedish technologies and manpower in India being one reason. It is important to increase the awareness of how much we can learn and enjoy from each others two countries and the framework for being ambassadors already exist. Mutual economical interests is a driver of the bilateral relations but also educational interest, e.g. India needs to broaden skills of nurses and train drivers. Swedish investment in India has a long tradition (IKEA, Saab, Ericsson) and assure a certain standard of quality to the Indians. To further the brand Sweden in India has potentials. Indian investment in Sweden is also growing. In order for a relationship to be sustainable it has to work two-ways and investments have to flow in both directions. More than 75 Indian companies currently operate in Sweden. To be able to attract more Indian investors in Sweden will help the overall relationship. What lies ahead for India? The young people of India (50% less than 29 years of age) want good health, education, employment opportunities and India is on the way to becoming the worlds largest middle income class and consumers. It has the second largest higher education enrolments (656 universities). India needs to include areas which are Swedens strengths, like higher education and affordable health care. By working together to find solutions, the economic and business collaboration will broaden and deepen. Growing collaboration in innovation through joint Research & Development and institutional linkages is one way.

2 Sida 2 (5) Higher Education in India Prof. Chandra B. Sharma, Project Director, Distance Education Programme, Indira Gandhi National University (IGNOU) In numbers and fees, IGNOU is the largest university in the world with distance mode of education, hence it is relying on modern technologies. India is only country that has it s own satellite for education. Impossible to have one definition on India since each state of India is a different country. India is a knowledge country and has a tradition of education and literacy. Up until 1990 only 5% of the population participated in higher education. India had to improve iliteracy and set a target of having every child above 5 in education. The manpower in India is very great and has elite quality. The great competition for a position in India means that you have to be hardworking. Education has to become accepted as a service to be traded. Cross border education one of the major areas where India has potential. At present 30% distance mode education of HEI which by 2017 should shift to 40%. Abroad universities can compete within this field. Indian students are hard working (average 18-20h/day). Two things to look at: 1) The young generation who is ready, 2) The newly proposed bill allowing companies/institutions to come to India and Indian companies going outside to compete and establish institutions. Foreign universities are not officially allowed of having campuses in India but possible to interact. The bureaucracy is of great challenge in public universities. Because of this, private institutions and such as research institutions and out of main stream education have an advantage. Children go to institutions for private coaching and this works as a parallell system to public education, even though no certificates are being provided. Research in India is high and very open compared to Sweden, however not as qualitative. India has the quantity and Sweden the quality. How to bring that together? India needs to improve the quality of research and meet with outside for collaboration. Starting with one or two model centres. Today the interaction with the angloworld (UK or US) is dominating. Nordic countries and Asian countries are potential future collaboration regions. There is a great concern that Indian universities are not highly ranked. Indian and Nordic universities need to meet to improve and increase collaboration possibilitis. Education as a business has been realised by Indians. The IGNOU charges rupies (300 dollars) for a whole Phd. People have the will to pay and there are systems and technial resources supporting distance education. Introduction to the Nordic Centre in India (NCI) Dr. Sirpa Tenhunen, Director, Nordic Centre in India The greatest challenges for NCI is that many member institutions do not know what NCI can offer. Linnaeus University is the 18th and latest member. NCI is a complex organisation, established in 2001 by a small group of nordic scholars who set the framework/structure.

3 Sida 3 (5) NCI has a General Assembly with one representative from each member, a NCI Board (chair person at Umeå university) and a Nordic secretariat and an Indian Liaison Office. What NCI can offer: A Delhi residence which acts as an office and guest house for students and faculty staff of member universities (40 euro/night, student discounts) NCI s Delhi liaisaon office provides a permanent representation in India for the members Help in fulfilling the strategic goals of internationalization Help with student recruitment (student fair to be organized in May 2015) Arranging meetings with prospect partners and Indian institutions Assisting in establishing agreements with Indian institutions What NCI can offer for researchers and faculty staff of members: Teacher exchange as the interest from students then will increase (teachers need to finance own exchange) Practical help What NCI can offer for students of members. Short summer courses, tailor-made for Nordic students Semester programs Language training opportunities (successful for finding jobs in Indian companies) (8 weeks summer course but also one and two semester courses) Assisting for visiting Nordic students, visa applications, arranging internships and field studies, external supervisor for minor field studies in India A question came up if NCI can contact large aid agencys like Sida and Norad which NCI considered to be a good idea. Ambassador suggestion: For all practical purposes Swedish people speak English. Not only in universities. Important to increase attraction that we speak English in Sweden and this should be the first thing at website. A Centre for Nordic Studies in India is to be launched in affiliation with an Indian university. Fifteen Years of Networking on South Asia: The Swedish South Asian Studies Network at Lund University (SASNET) Dr. Anna Lindberg, Director SASNET exists at Lund University since 2007 and it is a national, interdisciplinary network for South Asia Researchers (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Maldives). Sida initiated a call to start a South Asian platform as there was a lack of researchers in Sweden with knowledge about South Asia. Lund made an application for a national platform with all Swedish universities. Sida financed SASNET for 10 years (Lund one third). Since 2011 is Lund University the sole financer, though it is still a national network and promotes other universities.

4 Sida 4 (5) Website visitors come mainly from India and Sweden but also from all over world with visitors/month). There is a monthly newsletter, lars.eklund@sasnet.lu.se in order to sign up. What SNASET does: Arranges at least one international conference/year. Guides students, helping them find internship places. Arranges cultural events in Lund mostly. Have contacts with more than 50 universities, + research institutes Collaboration. Previously with Uppsala and KI and could do the same with Lnu. No longer SASNET writing applications but the Office of external relations. There is a long-term vision to build up a research and education centre for South Asian Studies at LU. IKEA in India challenges and opportunities Mr. Lars-Erik Fridolfsson, HR-specialist, IKEA, overall responsible for the Human resources in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Middle class in India approx 250 million people. Challenge: Business in these countries, travelling, because of the history. Opportunities: India infrastructure and renewable energy, language english, growing economy. IKEA has been in India for 25 years and workers are involved in IKEA production. There has been a formal approval of opening businesses in India with 100% ownership (before joint venture). India expects more companies to come into India when this possbility opened up. Indians vs North Europeans (Lars-Eriks view): Order & organization (India more chaotic) Relations vs result in business. Relations so much more important in Asia Hierarchy strong in India. Titles important in India Myself vs the collective, Westerners trained to find own way how to collaborate? 1/6 society rich vs poor: foreigners see and evaluate both do not separate it Time efficiency (India is better at being here and now orientated vs planning & future) Family extended vs nuclear family Joy of life spirituality Men-Women (India a patriarch society) Emotions we look for calmness and control whereas Indians love to argue Facing: from handmade to automatic. Employees in Asia expect to get promoted 30% faster than global peers. Leaders in Asia younger and less experienced. Possibilities: India has high competence. English language very good, global experience, Inclusion, flexibility, keeping sprit(uality).

5 Sida 5 (5) Oria Save the planet in style Ms. Sandhya Randberg, VD Oria Ms. Randberg gave a personal presentation about the creation and mission of her company Oria. How to do business in India Mr. Robin Sukhia, Secretary General, Sweden-India Business Council India has 29 states, each like its own country, hence it is important not to look at India as one country. Each state has a different demographic, growth and business culture. Relationships and volume distinct for business. Drastic change in income levels in India and the rise of India s consumer market is happening now. Large economic and agricultural growth. As English language is used, the knowledge transfer becomes easier. The manufacturing sector is momentarily growing faster than the service sector in India. Business opportunities: Manufacturing Health Care (The Swedish and Indian Ministers within Health care system a lot of exchange, MoUs) Automotive Agriculture and Food proessing Retail Telecom and IT Key factors when doing business in India: - Local organisation (if you can do it locally, you can export it to all over world) - Country President (full power) - Top Management Devotion - Business Model - Geographical location Swedish has a lack of engineers India has the manpower and English language. Sweden needs a market - India. Cultural differences cultural awareness: Difference in management style, communication, cultural values, attitudes and beliefs and in behaviour styles What is important? You have to show interest! Sweden creates strong individuals while India strong family relations. Swedish India Business Council (SIBC) is 10 years old and has about 130 members and can offer: Lobbying activities the Magazine INSIGHT - about Sweden India Strategic and operational advise