Why is it necessary to focus on attracting international students to India?
Annually, around 7.5 lakh Indian students seek education abroad, leading to a surge in private universities aiming to meet this demand. While these institutions have succeeded in attracting foreign faculty, they face challenges in bringing in international students. This limits the cross-cultural exposure essential in modern education. To address this gap, India’s National Education Policy 2020 focuses on internationalization. It advocates curricular improvements, campuses open to foreign scholars and students, and joint degree programs with foreign institutions. These changes aim to enhance the competitiveness and inclusiveness of Indian higher education.
Further, Strategies to enhance attraction of International Students in India:
- Fostering Post-Education Opportunities: One drawback for international students studying in India is that, despite the country’s thriving corporate and start-up sectors, they are unable to obtain work experience while pursuing their degrees. This is a significant obstacle for many such students. It is necessary to change India’s “S” Visa or student policy in order to address this.
- Creating a Talent Ecosystem : Many Indian organisations are multinationals or aspire to be multinationals, thus they need staff that understands Indian markets, business etiquette, rules, and culture in-depth. These enterprises can create a network of international talent that acts as a cultural bridge by hiring foreign talent from Indian campuses and employing Indian graduates who are returning home.
For Eg– The big three US tech companies — Google, Meta, and Microsoft — are all headed by Indian alumni of US universities. Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai who studied in India kept bilateral relations warm through difficult times.
- Addressing Workforce Challenges : Concerns that foreign students may take jobs away from Indian students are unfounded. India’s population growth has dipped below the replacement rate of 2.1 per cent, and the country will begin ageing soon, like China, according to the UN Population Fund. India’s declining population growth and impending aging population mean that a dwindling working-age population will soon become a reality. Sustaining growth under these circumstances requires innovative solutions.
- Learning from Global Practices : Countries like the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada have successfully addressed workforce challenges by offering post-study student work visas. Europe, on the other hand, has focused on migration, bringing about political implications. India has the opportunity to learn from these diverse approaches.
- Expansion of Student Work Visas: An expanded provision of student work visas can unlock several advantages, including accommodating the 4,000 scholarships offered to foreigners annually under various Indian programs. It can also facilitate field experience for foreign students in areas like mining and agriculture.
- Strategies for Advancing Higher Education as an Export Industry in India:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has identified higher education as a key export sector.
So, to unlock the full potential of internationalization in higher education, India must amend its student visa policies. This involves multi-ministry coordination, encompassing the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, and active involvement from Indian multinational companies and business chambers.
In conclusion, reformed student visa policies will not only boost India’s higher education but also create a sustainable talent ecosystem that benefits the nation’s economic and cultural exchange.
