Education has drastically evolved in India over the past few decades. There are large numbers of schools that are adopting global pedagogies which include Montessori, Waldorf, IB, Cambridge to name a few. There are also a few experimental schools which are trying to bring in best amongst the education philosophies to offer a mix of theoretical, practical and immersive education experience. This is intended to help students to not just survive but excel in these ever-changing global scenarios and be better prepared in the 21st century. With advancement in technology and ease of availability of information, students now are able to get in-depth understanding of various career options that suit their liking. Students and their parents are now more open to consider options beyond India for education of their choice.
Over the last few years students going abroad straight after secondary school have drastically increased. This demonstrates the perceived value in global education.
According to the statistics released by Indian Ministry of External Affairs in 2019, the number of Indian students studying in universities across the world was staggering 7,53,000 which is only second to China.
As the population in India rises, so does the competition for seats in top Indian universities, this makes it difficult for a lot of high scoring students to get admissions. Most of Indian universities tend to offer best education in technology and medical studies but are yet to evolve and offer educational courses/degrees in new domains of studies that have come to light over last few years. Lack of qualified educators and infrastructure is one of the major reasons for the same.
Foreign universities offer a golden opportunity to students who wish to continue their studies in the domain of their choice. My personal experience resonates with this. It was very difficult for me to find a course in an Indian university that would offer a choice of subject that I was really interested in, this motivated me to search, contact and then pursue my masters’ education abroad (UK). I can definitely say, it was one of the best decisions that changed my life. Though it has been more than a decade I can certainly say that if one decides to come back to India, a Bachelor's or Master's degree from a reputed international university holds higher value in Indian job market as they offer specialized courses, more options of electives and tailor-made modules.
Additionally, not only in UK but a lot international universities have been in existence for almost a century, they have better infrastructure and facilities, experience-based learning pedagogies, high quality trainers who are mostly practicing professionals which in turn help to have a better industry connect.
As a student of an international university, one can also opt for part-time work along with the studies. This helps in learning vital life skills and overall aids in your personal development. This experience is next to impossible in Indian universities.
The best part of studying in international universities is the multi-cultural environment. Living in a different country gives you an opportunity or rather forces you to connect, work and meet with peers from various parts of the world, this allows you to learn about them, their culture, their perspectives which helps a lot in building a global mindset. This does wonders to your communication skills, people skills and adapting to various work environments when you become a professional.
One of the experiences that I cherish the most from my stay in UK is the opportunities I got to travel, meet different peoples, understand their cultures and make lifelong friends, which otherwise would have been practically impossible if I would have stayed and continued my education in India.
In recent times, a lot of countries have started welcoming students, which has offered a lot of newer options for students to study. Traditionally, most students gravitate towards studying in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia or Germany, largely due to personal first-hand information available about these countries from friends and relatives. However, increasingly, students also apply for Canada, Italy, France, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark, New-Zealand, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, thanks to the pro-immigration policies, access to part time work while studying, and post study work visas/work permits along with permanent residence offered by these countries. This allows students to have an option to lower their living costs, increase their career opportunities and pay-off the education loans (if any) all the while reaping the benefits of a truly multi-cultural, global experience.
There is also a substantial growth in per capita income along with upliftment in standard of living over the last few years in India. This has led to international education becoming accessible to a large number of middle-income families. New education loan schemes from banks that offer lower interest rates and flexible repayment options, along with hefty scholarships & financial aid offered by International universities, give the much-needed boost to aspiring students and their families.
There is also a new category of prospective students who are looking for a new experience in their life through education. Mostly the families of these students are able to fund their education. They look for options beyond traditional careers and tend to be less concerned with the immigration policies of specific countries and are open to explore new destinations. These students, if/when successful, become trend setters for newer generations to opt for these off-beat career options.
International education is certainly a life-changing experience and more Indian students are able to get access to this. Thanks to the economic growth, favorable immigration and visa policies along with availability of in-depth information about the global education sector. This will indirectly also compel Indian universities to raise their standard and expand their platter of course offerings. Till this happens, it is safe to say that motivation to opt for a foreign university will be on the rise.
In either way, this will definitely work in the favor of the students and help them gain rewarding, relevant and high-quality education experience
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