1. If we conduct a survey we will find that the surge in our student population moving to foreign shores for higher education comprises the average or the below average achievers. As the intake of students in our established universities and colleges is super competitive, the middle achievers would find it extremely difficult to seek admission into established colleges, universities and courses in the country. For these students entry into a foreign university based on either their predicted scores or just the availability of payment makes it convenient. The choice is between an unknown local college and a foreign university tag. The latter is evidently more appealing.
2. With this comes the linked easy access to educational loans afforded by our financial institutions. Also in recent times our middle class is flourishing. There is a lot of awareness of job opportunities abroad which would ease the repayment of loans in the future. Students are not hesitating to sign contracts with foreign entities to associate with them after receiving their degrees. This works two-fold. These organisations get cheap and immediate labour for a set period of time and students get job assurance and with conversion into Indian rupee, a decent amount to repay loans and still be able to secure a comfortable life.
3. Another vital factor when we talk about 21st century choices in degrees is the shift to skill-based courses, which would secure quicker and more lucrative jobs. Unfortunately in India apart from our IITs and NIITs, AIMS and ancillary med schools, NLS and similar Law colleges, Liberal Arts colleges are few and far between. Hence students who wish to pursue dual degrees, vocational -based courses naturally move out of the country as options in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Japan and Europe are far more in number. Also universities in these countries are looking for overseas students for a special reason. The Covid years had led to a steep drop in International student intake. Cash strapped universities and colleges who depend on foreign students were out to woo them in large numbers to ease out their financial deficit. The booming Indian market post 2021 was there for everyone to tap into. Also students who had found placements in foreign institutions during the Covid years deferred their joining and were suitably accommodated from 2022 onwards.
4. Another important but an unfortunate fact lies in our Indian mindset. We have not been able to distance ourselves from believing that the West is the best, even to this day. Hence a multitude of students and their families unconditionally accept that even an insignificant foreign university tag will provide far more job opportunities than an Indian one once they get back to the country., if at all they do.
