As countries tighten immigration for students and universities rush to set up campuses abroad to claim a share of the global education market, Sweden is taking a different line. It wants Indian students, but it does not expect its universities to open campuses in India.

Speaking on the sidelines of an education fair in New Delhi featuring 13 Swedish universities, Ambassador Petra Menander, who took charge in August this year after a posting in Riyadh, told Indianexpress.com her priority is to get Indian students to apply directly to institutions in Sweden. The universities are on hand to explain their specialities, what life is like in their communities and how applications work. “Student mobility is very important for us, and that’s why we organised the fair,” she said. “We are very hands-on practically.”

Why is Sweden knocking on India’s door?

The interest is already there. Last year, 4,200 Indians went to Sweden for higher education, and another 40,000 went for work, she noted.…