As we witness a growing number of Western universities establishing campuses in India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, one can’t help but wonder—is this move two decades too late?

Back in the early 2000s, setting up an overseas campus might have made sense. The world was less connected, online education was still in its infancy, and international education was one of the few pathways for students in developing economies to access high-quality instruction. But today, in a world shaped by YouTube, Zoom, ChatGPT, and on-demand microlearning, replicating the old model of physical expansion feels more like a nostalgic throwback than a visionary step forward.

Building campuses abroad comes with significant costs: infrastructure, faculty recruitment, administrative overhead, and perhaps most burdensome of all—navigating a web of regulatory approvals from both local and home governments. It’s a slow, expensive, and bureaucratic process. And for what?

The core appeal of international education isn’t merely academic—it’s the experience. Students want to immerse themselves in a different culture, build global networks, and access new career opportunities. Setting up a satellite campus in their own backyard dilutes that experience. It may offer a Western logo and curriculum, but not the international exposure they seek.

Instead, a more forward-looking strategy would be to invest in high-quality online delivery, AI-driven learning support, and global hybrid models. Why not create digital campuses that offer remote learning, combined with short-term overseas immersion or scholarships for top performers? These models offer scalability, accessibility, and—importantly—flexibility to adapt to evolving student needs.

Universities that continue to think in terms of bricks and mortar may soon find themselves losing relevance. The world has changed, and education must follow.

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