At least nine out of every 10 students believe that overseas education will help them develop new skills and gather practical knowledge, according to a new report from an international financial services company.
Western Union’s report “OVERSEAS EDUCATION, AN EVOLVING JOURNEY”, with responses from 241 Indian students, also observes that foreign education is being viewed as “PREPARATORY SCHOOL” for the development of a complete personality.
The report said that Indian students are seeking education abroad to get better exposure, interact with different people and understand different cultures. Overall, goals centred around personal development and experiences took precedence over materialistic goals, such as buying a home or car, – the report added.
Nevertheless, material benefits like better job opportunities, affluent lifestyle and better infrastructure also attract Indian students. According to the report, opportunities for postgraduate work are an important factor for students seeking to pursue foreign degrees.
Game Designing and Eco-technology is Gaining Popularity:
Indian students are now looking ahead to high-ranking institutions like the Ivy League, with 70 per cent of prospective students preferring better methods of teaching than the reputation of the university. Moreover, off-beat courses like game designing and ecotechnology are gaining popularity among the students.
Pandemic has also given Rise to a Hybrid Model of Education:
Foreign education has long been an aspiration for young Indians. The data supports the trend, from 3.17 lakh students in 2016 to 5.90 lakh students in 2019. The year 2020, with the CORONA-19 pandemic, saw a drop in the number of students. But the pandemic has also given rise to a tech-enabled hybrid model of education, with 46 per cent of respondents preferring such a model.
European institutions are actively seeking to attract Indian students with language training and the launch of new English-led programmes. It is becoming easier for Indians to pursue educational opportunities in various European countries. These nations also provide high quality education at more affordable prices.
In fact, 46 percent of prospective students see “SELF-RELIANCE” and a priority to live life on their own terms as a major reason for looking to overseas education.
You also have to remember that with digital technology gaining wide acceptance during the CORONA-19 pandemic, courses like automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science and robotics are also becoming popular.
