1. The market for international students in the UK is estimated to contribute about $ 9 billion to the British economy as non-EU students pay up to five times that of UK and EU students. The number of student visas issued to almost entirely self-financed Indian students increased dramatically from under 4000 in 1999 to about 19000 in 2006, contributing �300 million to the UK economy. After China (about 50,000), India is the second largest sender of students to UK. The UK aims to attract 100,000 more international students by 2011. UK universities are approaching students from small towns in India besides the four metropolitan cities. Over 14 UK Universities have opened full-time offices in India. In addition, several UK Colleges have approached GOI for funding for Chairs / scholarships on India. In September 2005, India announced it would fund a Chair named after Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru at Cambridge University to project the Indian economy, business and management. Further, efforts are underway to create Chairs dedicated to India supplemented by India Business Centres in leading Business Schools with the support of UK corporates.

2. India has (Nov.04) become a strategic partner in the Global Gateway Initiative of the UK Department for Education and Skills for linkages between schools. To increase Indian students enrolment, PMTB announced the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) in September 2005, launched in London on April 18, 2006. The Initiative solicited contributions from industry and Shell, BP, BAE Systems and Glaxosmithkline have pledged funds. 50 research fellowships have recently been announced and a website has been created. The first meeting of the India-UK Science and Innovation Council in London on June 2006 endorsed UKIERI and agreed to match the UK�s contribution for bilateral research projects. The Initiative would focus primarily on higher education and has accepted bids for projects from academic institutions during the current UK Financial Year. Mr. Blair said from May any overseas student who completed a postgraduate degree or undergraduates in sectors needing extra skills could work in Britain for up to 12 months after graduating. MPs from the Conservative Party have demanded that this period be extended to two years, as per the Scottish model.

3. Issues that we have been taking up with the UK are: (a) the need for mutual recognition of medical qualifications, beginning with the postgraduate medical degrees awarded through the National Board of Examinations and the three institutions at national level established through Act of Parliament [AIIMS, PGI, Chandigarh and SCTIMST, Thiruvananthapuram]; and (b) the need to recognise the Post-Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) awarded by Indian Institutes of Management as an MBA equivalent degree by the UK.