The recent H-1B policy has evolved as one of the profound disruptions. However, for India, this could be a catalyst. In a shifting world order, marked by economic realignments and technological disruptions, such migration policies can be perceived as much of a challenge as an opportunity. It may put a pause to the big fat “American Dream”, but also pave the way for the “Indian Dream”. That, because the Indian academic scene has evolved significantly over the years.

Need for transformative higher education system

Over the past decade, India has been reshaping its higher education landscape with remarkable pace and purpose. This transformation has been guided by a dual ambition—to offer education that matches the best in the world and to give India’s brightest minds strong reasons to stay, study, and build their futures within the country.

Data from the Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of External Affairs, indicates that nearly 900,000 Indian students pursued education overseas in 2023, while in 2024, that number declined to 760,000. Though modest, this shift marks an important change in direction. The same sentiment is echoed among graduates of India’s leading institutions. In the 1960s, a large proportion of IIT graduates moved abroad in search of better prospects, but last year, more chose to remain in India to shape their careers.

This changing pattern reflects a deeper national evolution where education and industry increasingly move in step with one another. As industries expand, they create demand for skilled professionals, and as education strengthens, it supplies the very talent that drives this growth. Together, they are building a self-sustaining cycle in which opportunity and aspiration increasingly find their match within India’s borders.

Universities have now invested significantly in state-of-the-art laboratories, incubation centres, and research chairs co-funded by global corporations. These measures are no longer the exception; they are becoming the norm. As a result, students graduating from Indian universities are gaining exposure to global standards without having to leave home.

Navigating new challenges abroad

This evolution in our domestic ecosystem coincides with changing conditions overseas. The tightening of H-1B visa regulations and similar immigration restrictions in the U.S., historically the most popular destination for Indian students, signals a clear shift. While such policies may initially deter students from seeking education or employment abroad, they also present an opportunity for Indian institutions to step up.

We must acknowledge that international mobility will remain important. However, the idea that success necessarily involves migration is being re-evaluated. If fewer graduates can easily pursue post-study employment abroad, it becomes imperative to create a comparable, if not superior, career pathway at home. This is not a retreat from globalisation; it is a recalibration of how Indian talent engages with the world.

Partnerships bringing the world to India

One of the most powerful ways to achieve this recalibration is through robust industry–academia partnerships. In the past, students looked overseas for internships, research opportunities, and exposure to cutting-edge technologies. Today, global companies and Indian start-ups alike are bringing those opportunities here.

Collaborative research centres, co-designed curricula, and industry-funded scholarships are transforming our campuses into hubs of innovation. Students gain practical skills, mentorship, and project experience that mirror what they might once have sought in Silicon Valley or European R&D hubs. For example, a student working on artificial intelligence at a university-industry research lab in Bengaluru today may collaborate virtually with teams in California, Tokyo, and Berlin without leaving India.

These partnerships are not just about technology; they extend to public policy, social innovation, and sustainability. By aligning academic programmes with industry needs, we ensure our graduates are globally competitive and locally impactful.

Redefining success beyond migration

For decades, many of our brightest minds measured success by the ease with which they could migrate to foreign shores. That narrative is changing. Increasingly, students and their families are asking not just “where” they can go but “what” they can build.

Building impact within India does not mean turning inward. It means contributing to solutions that matter to the world. These include solutions such as renewable energy innovations, affordable healthcare technologies, and digital platforms that can scale across continents. In this way, Indian graduates are shaping global progress from their home base.

As educators, we must nurture this shift in mindset. We must celebrate those who build world-class enterprises in India, lead breakthrough research from Indian labs, and create public policies that influence global discourse. Our universities can act as the launch pads for such careers, blending global exposure with local relevance.

Onwards to a global entrepreneurship hub

The Indian dream is also taking on a new form, especially with a thrust on self-reliance, global competitiveness, and social impact. Our youth no longer have to look solely outward to achieve global excellence. Through reimagined higher education, stronger industry linkages, and a bold redefinition of success, India can become a destination where dreams are realised and the world is influenced.

By nurturing talent and innovation within our borders, while maintaining a global outlook, we can ensure that the Indian dream survives the shifting global order.

(The author is President, BML Munjal University. Views are personal.)