New Delhi: Where on one hand Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD), Mr. Kapil Sibal, stands tall announcing the welcoming of foreign universities in India there has been a lot of buzz about its worth.

Sibal has hit the ball hard but the spectators gaze and wait with their bated breath for it to be either a catch-out or a six!

The news has left many students, teachers and academicians split, which is why it is necessary to understand the nuances that each one associated with the educational institutions are bound to face.

Although Sibal is optimistic for the ball to cross the boundary leading to increase in competition, enhanced choices, benchmark quality education but the Cabinet clearance of the Bill evoked a mixed response.

Roy Anderson, rector, Imperial College London, expressed concerns about the quality control, welcomed skeptical inputs. "There have been several lesser known international colleges who have been expanding their services abroad in different countries but the world class institutions are an exception. They tend to focus on quality and are unwilling to compromise on it," said Anderson.

However, S.K. Barua, director, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) had another valid point to bring into notice. He said, "Allowing foreign institutions to set up in India would although invite healthy competition among higher academic institutions but this should not create a rift among those qualifying from an Indian campus."

Talking about students, most of them appreciated the move as it would make foreign education more accessible and cheap but they also had their own apprehensions.

"It is not the matter of just obtaining a foreign degree, but it is an overall experience and exposure in gaining it, which counts," said a student.

Indira Samarasekera, president, University of Alberta, Canada, explained that an overseas academic experience always provides a student with an opportunity to explore beyond four walls and evolve into global citizens, while Richard Stagg, British High Commissioner felt that it could address many problems.

The affordable option although fails to excite Atasi Chakraborty, a teacher at Indira Gandhi Memorial Secondary School, Kolkata and a mother of two kids who feels that both cost and exposure do not fall into her priority list.

The new decision however, has received a welcoming note from the higher educational institutions including the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) as they seek to dispel any threat posed by the institutions from abroad.

With the Cabinet's announcement about the entry of foreign institutions in the country, these institutions appeared optimistic about their prospect in India.

Prof. Gautam Baruah, Director IIT Guwahati, expressed no apprehension about the move and said that, "We welcome such initiatives."

However, apprehensions are being raised about the faculty of IIT and IIM joining these institutions but he dispelled any such worry and said that, "Although some of the faculty might join them but the majority would continue with the IITs. There would be no issue if some of the faculty wants to join the foreign institutions."

Prof. Devi Singh, Director, IIM Lucknow too had the same opinion to share. Welcoming the move Prof Singh said that, "It will help bring in well known international education providers to India. But, it is also important that these universities work in tandem with that of India so that the students do not have to face any difference in the value as that of an international degree."

Delhi University (DU) Vice Chancellor Prof. Deepak Pental dispelled all the worries about the entry of foreign institutions in India and said that, "The Indian institutions would experience a global education standard with those of their foreign counterparts."