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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
The real challenges of foreign campuses
There has been much debate in India about attracting foreign university branch campuses since the University Grants Commission (UGC) established regulations in 2023. A few have set up shop: two Australian universities — Deakin University and the University of Wollongong — in Gujarat's GIFT City, and the U.K.'s University of Southampton in Gurugram, near Delhi. The momentum has continued to grow in recent months. Last week, Letters of Intent (LOIs) were issued to five foreign institutions — the University of York, the University of Aberdeen, University of Western Australia, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Italy's Instituto Europeo di Design (IED) — to establish campuses in Mumbai. However, early indicators suggest that Deakin and Wollongong, which began classes last year, and the University of Southampton, which is going to welcome its first batch of students, may be moving too quickly. Admissions were announced often before essential details, such as information about the faculty and other key elements, were made publicly available. While this rapid pace may signal strong intent and enthusiasm, it also raises many concerns. Also read | Boom in foreign university branch campuses: Can they deliver quality education? Challenges to the branch idea Globally, transnational education is navigating an increasingly uncertain landscape. This may be one of the most difficult global environments for universities to establish branches. The country with the largest number of overseas university branches globally, the U.S., is in complete disarray due to attacks on higher education from the Donald Trump administration. The last thing on the minds of most American university leaders is foreign initiatives. Therefore, the Illinois Institute of Technology's decision to establish a campus in India should be seen as an exception. Even institutions willing to enter the Indian market will have to overcome numerous domestic challenges. A major issue is navigating India's highly competitive higher education landscape. Most of the institutions seeking to enter the Indian market are not top-tier schools in their own countries. In India, they risk being seen as just one among several 'elite' options available to students. These branch campuses follow a market-driven model, offering programmes in high-demand fields such as business, computer science, and data analytics. While this approach may be financially strategic, the narrow academic focus risks making them indistinguishable from India's better-performing private colleges and universities. Therefore, the real challenge is to establish a clear academic identity. Without this, they risk being perceived as little more than diploma mills, ultimately undermining the reputation of the very universities they represent. It is also relevant that most of the branches already established or planning to be established are not comprehensive universities with diverse offerings and research focus, but rather are small specialised schools. India already boasts renowned public institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), which are actively expanding their global engagement and research capabilities. Notable collaborations, such as IIT Delhi with the University of Queensland and IIT Bombay with Monash University, have set strong precedents for international research partnerships. Furthermore, a growing number of elite and semi-elite private universities in India now offer joint and double-degree programmes in collaboration with foreign institutions. In this dynamic environment, foreign branch campuses cannot rely solely on the strength of their brand. Myth of marketing A concerning trend among some international branch campuses already established in India is their disproportionate reliance on marketing strategies, often at the expense of academic investment. While marketing has its place, it cannot substitute for substance. Students and parents are increasingly discerning. They examine publicly available information on faculty credentials, curriculum design, industry relevance, and student support systems. Flashy campaigns without academic depth or meaningful student engagement will not build lasting trust. Another key problem lies in students' perception and the reality of campus life. Early observations suggest that most of these branch campuses operate out of vertical buildings, often renting space. While such structures may offer operational efficiency, they often lack the vibrancy, openness, and spatial identity characteristic of traditional Indian universities. If foreign universities wish to be perceived as full-fledged institutions, they must invest in essential 'soft' infrastructure as well. Need for local relevance From the Indian perspective, selecting the right partner is important. Universities from the Global North are typically interested in branch campuses for several reasons. Host countries or institutions may offer major incentives in terms of facilities or funds. In many cases, the primary motivation is to earn money, as illustrated by several branches in Dubai. Some wish to establish a presence in a country to recruit students to the home campus. Without major incentives, top global universities will seldom be attracted. India will need to carefully evaluate whether a particular branch proposal is suitable for local needs, and whether it is from a foreign institution that is attractive. The establishment of foreign university branch campuses in India marks a significant milestone in the higher education landscape. However, if these ventures are rushed or poorly managed, they risk becoming cautionary tales — short-lived initiatives that erode trust, dilute brand value, and stall the broader momentum toward meaningful internationalisation. Philip G Altbach is professor emeritus and distinguished fellow, Center for International Higher Education, Boston College, United States. Eldho Mathews is programme officer (internationalisation) at the Kerala State Higher Education Council, India
Hans India
2 days ago
- Science
- Hans India
AI app helps visitors identify donkeys at Isle of Wight Sanctuary
Visitors to the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary can now identify their favourite adopted donkeys using an AI-powered mobile app developed by researchers at the University of Southampton. The app, named Ask ELVIS (Equine Long-range Visual Identification System), allows users to point their phone camera at a donkey, and through facial recognition and machine learning, the app identifies the animal and displays its name and profile. Currently in development, the app has a 50% identification accuracy—akin to a coin toss—but project lead Dr Xiaohao Cai is confident it will be significantly improved and ready for public use by the end of the year. "We're working to bridge the gap between experimental and real-world accuracy," said Dr Cai. The project began after sanctuary staff noticed that name collars were causing discomfort and safety risks for the donkeys. In 2023, the collars were removed. "There had been accidents and near misses, so we got rid of them," explained Gordon Pattison, volunteer and trustee at the sanctuary. "But the public still needs a way to identify their adopted donkeys." Thousands of visitors have adopted donkeys through the sanctuary's fundraising initiative, and many want to reconnect with their chosen animals during visits. The app pays tribute to a beloved donkey named Elvis, who passed away in 2024. "When the app launches, it greets users with Elvis the donkey, as if you're asking him, 'Who's that donkey over there?'" said Mr Pattison. In the future, the team hopes to extend the technology to detect early signs of illness in donkeys—an area where AI could offer significant help. "Donkeys are stoic, and don't show obvious signs of illness. AI might help us pick up the subtle clues sooner," added Mr Pattison. He emphasized the broader lesson: 'AI isn't just for big corporations. With the right idea, anyone can harness it to solve meaningful problems.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Study investigates how to support grieving families
A man whose two-year-old son died after contracting sepsis says he "dreads to think" where he and his family would be without the support they from Guildford in Surrey, said Shooting Star Children's Hospices helped him realise he was not alone in his grief following the death of his son Monty in said grieving families were "not alone" and "you don't have to lock yourself away".Shooting Star is now collaborating with experts from the University of Southampton on a project to investigate and make recommendations to improve support for those who experience the unexpected death of a child. The group of hospices said it was one of only two in the country to have created a specialist bereavement service for families whose child had died suddenly or described the support from the hospice's counselling programme as "phenomenal".Now the £1.2m-study from Shooting Star, called Quinet, will see researchers run a national survey of bereaved team will also interview health professionals and other caregivers as part of the study that involves the universities of Surrey, Central Lancashire and Birmingham. Anne-Sophie Darlington, co-lead investigator for the study, said: "Surprisingly little is understood about the very complex needs of families when they experience the deep trauma of the sudden death of a child and it is crucial that we gain evidence about their care needs and what helps them cope in the longer term."The study will make recommendations for change in 2027.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Blood test to detect early signs of deadliest cancer trialled in UK – and doctors are calling for people to take part
A NEW blood test to pick up early signs of a cancer which kills more than half of people within three months of diagnosis is being trialled by UK doctors. The genomic test uses blood samples to look for markers of the deadly disease, which often has vague symptoms. 2 Currently, the UK doesn't have a national screening programme for pancreatic cancer like it does for breast or bowel cancer. A huge issue is the disease is often diagnosed at a late stage because it frequently lacks noticeable symptoms in the early stages. But a new pancreatic cancer test is being trialled in patients with a recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes - a known risk factor for the disease. People over 50 with a new case of type 2 diabetes have a higher chance of also being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer within three years. Early data suggests the Avantect test is 68 per cent accurate in picking up people with early stages of the disease, which kills almost 10,000 people every year in the UK. It's also 97 per cent accurate in ruling out people without pancreatic cancer. The new clinical trial has been launched at the Cancer Research UK Southampton Clinical Trials Unit. Zaed Hamady, consultant surgeon and pancreatic researcher at the University of Southampton, who's leading the trial, said: "There is currently no targeted early detection or surveillance test for the disease meaning patients are often diagnosed late when they become really unwell. "If we can develop approaches to detect the cancer sooner, then there are more options we may consider to treat the disease, and patients will have a much better chance of long-term survival. "Although most people with diabetes will not go on to develop the disease, new onset diabetes is associated with a six to eight-fold increased risk. "This patient group gives us a way to test how accurate the new diagnostic blood test is, and that could potentially help thousands of people in the future." According to researchers, newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients often have similar symptoms as a person with early-stage pancreatic cancer. This is because the cancer destroys the same insulin-producing cells that are also destroyed in diabetes. 'Earlier diagnosis would have meant time to make more memories with our children' Sean Cleghorn's wife, Allison, discovered she had pancreatic cancer at Christmas 2020 but died four weeks later aged 54. Mr Cleghorn, a father of three from Kingsclere in Hampshire, said: "The only symptom Allison displayed was some slight indigestion and then she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the autumn of 2020. "Allison had always eaten healthily, was active and avoided processed food, so this diagnosis was puzzling for us. "When we learned that new-onset type 2 diabetes was a potential risk factor for pancreatic cancer, we asked for further testing and a scan confirmed she had terminal cancer. "We hoped she could have chemotherapy to prolong her life, but she became too weak and died four weeks later. "Perhaps if she had been diagnosed sooner with a test like the one that's currently being trialled, we may have had time to make more memories with our three children." Angelica Cazaly, senior trial manager for the trial, said: "We are asking people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes who are attending GP surgeries or diabetic clinics whether they would like to take part in the study. "Initially, we will collect blood samples from 800 people for testing. "The results from the test, together with medical information collected from each patient, will help provide researchers with important information on how best to proceed with the rest of the study that will evaluate how accurate the test is at predicting pancreatic cancer." 'Exciting time for early detection research' 2 Around 10,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year and just one in 20 survive the disease for 10 years or more. Samuel Levy, chief scientific officer of ClearNote Health, said: "Our early data demonstrate that our Avantect test can identify pancreatic cancer in stages I and II. "We are excited to collaborate with the Cancer Research UK Southampton Clinical Trials Unit and the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust on this transformative study that could redefine how pancreatic cancer is detected and managed for patients at high risk." Dr Chris Macdonald, head of research at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said over 80 per cent of people with pancreatic cancer are currently diagnosed too late for treatment. He added: "This is an exciting time for early detection research, with tests using blood, breath and urine in development which, if shown to be successful in clinical trials, could save thousands of lives every year. "Early findings from these tests are very promising, but more research is needed to ensure that they are as accurate as possible before they will be available in the GP surgery."
ITV News
4 days ago
- Health
- ITV News
Blood test for early signs of pancreatic cancer trialled by Southampton doctors
A new blood test to pick up early signs of pancreatic cancer is being trialled by UK doctors. The genomic test uses blood samples to look for markers of the deadly disease, which often has vague symptoms and can kill people within months. The test is being trialled in patients with a recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes – a known risk factor for pancreatic cancer. People over 50 with a new case of type 2 diabetes have a higher chance of also being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer within three years. Early data suggests the Avantect test is 68% accurate in picking up people with early stages of the disease, which kills almost 10,000 people every year in the UK. It is also 97% accurate in ruling out people without pancreatic cancer. The new clinical trial has been launched at the Cancer Research UK Southampton Clinical Trials Unit. Zaed Hamady, consultant surgeon and pancreatic researcher at the University of Southampton, is leading the trial. He said: 'There is currently no targeted early detection or surveillance test for the disease meaning patients are often diagnosed late when they become really unwell. 'If we can develop approaches to detect the cancer sooner, then there are more options we may consider to treat the disease, and patients will have a much better chance of long-term survival. 'Although most people with diabetes will not go on to develop the disease, new onset diabetes is associated with a six to eight-fold increased risk. 'This patient group gives us a way to test how accurate the new diagnostic blood test is, and that could potentially help thousands of people in the future.' The test has been validated by biotechnology company ClearNote Health in patients at a high risk for developing pancreatic cancer, including those aged 50 and over newly-diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and those with a genetic predisposition and/or family history of pancreatic cancer. According to researchers, newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients often have similar symptoms as a person with early-stage pancreatic cancer. This is because the cancer destroys the same insulin-producing cells that are also destroyed in diabetes. Sean Cleghorn's wife, Allison, discovered she had pancreatic cancer at Christmas 2020 but died four weeks later aged 54. Mr Cleghorn, a father of three from Kingsclere in Hampshire, said: 'The only symptom Allison displayed was some slight indigestion and then she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the autumn of 2020. 'Allison had always eaten healthily, was active and avoided processed food, so this diagnosis was puzzling for us. 'When we learned that new-onset type 2 diabetes was a potential risk factor for pancreatic cancer, we asked for further testing and a scan confirmed she had terminal cancer. 'We hoped she could have chemotherapy to prolong her life, but she became too weak and died four weeks later. 'Perhaps if she had been diagnosed sooner with a test like the one that's currently being trialled, we may have had time to make more memories with our three children.' Angelica Cazaly, senior trial manager for the trial, said: 'We are asking people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes who are attending GP surgeries or diabetic clinics whether they would like to take part in the study. 'Initially, we will collect blood samples from 800 people for testing. 'The results from the test, together with medical information collected from each patient, will help provide researchers with important information on how best to proceed with the rest of the study that will evaluate how accurate the test is at predicting pancreatic cancer.' Around 10,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year and just one in 20 survive the disease for 10 years or more. Samuel Levy, chief scientific officer of ClearNote Health, said: 'Our early data demonstrate that our Avantect test can identify pancreatic cancer in stages I and II. 'We are excited to collaborate with the Cancer Research UK Southampton Clinical Trials Unit and the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust on this transformative study that could redefine how pancreatic cancer is detected and managed for patients at high risk.' Dr Chris Macdonald, head of research at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said over 80% of people with pancreatic cancer are currently diagnosed too late for treatment. He added: 'This is an exciting time for early detection research, with tests using blood, breath and urine in development which, if shown to be successful in clinical trials, could save thousands of lives every year. 'Early findings from these tests are very promising, but more research is needed to ensure that they are as accurate as possible before they will be available in the GP surgery.'
