With rupee continuing its fall, the education abroad seems way beyond the reach of many young Indian students. Ankush Kumar of Elets News Network (ENN) explores the challenges of studying abroad

From Mahatma Gandhi to RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, many who have made or are still making an impact on India, its culture and history, have studied abroad.
Pursuing higher studies in a foreign university has been a priority of many in our country. Our continuous modifying lifestyle due to the vast influence of western countries has somehow enhanced our adaptability to adjust and excel in the modern world. There was a time when students used to find life quite different and difficult in the west. The people, language, food, conveyance, cost, culture and almost everything was alien to them.
While taking a stroll in some of the popular markets in metros in India, it’s sometimes difficult to differentiate between an American and an Indian. The young generation has adopted the western culture so well that even their lifestyle has become very lavish. Now, cultural shock is not a huge issue for most of the Indians, who visit abroad with the help of a student visa.

Challenges before Indian applicants
Apart from food, weather, transportation, language barriers, etc, there are other big issues that are hampering the migration of students from India to other international destinations. Most of the European countries including the UK are going through an economic turmoil, which straight away restricts them to open gates for foreign students. Most of the foreign students in the UK or other European Union countries migrate with an aim to get a job in the foreign land. This poses a risk to the domestic students forcing these countries to make their policies stringent for foreign students every now and then.
The other main issue is the recent fall of Indian rupee, which has made the education abroad costlier. Experts say the number of students looking at foreign shores has not diminished, but many are moving to countries, which are cheaper than the US or the UK. The US dollar and pound have gone way up against rupee. This year, many students aspiring to study abroad were left disheartened due to the fall of rupee. For instance, when the students were planning to study in the UK, one pound was around `85, but the time when they were taking admission, the pound reached `105. It means if the course fee at the time of planning was pound 11,600 (`9.86 lakh), the same cost would be `12.18 lakh after the fall of rupee. In other words, the students would have to shell out `2.32 lakh extra due to the pound getting stronger.
Higher education in India is undergoing tremendous change. The country has more than 600 million people, who are under the age of 25. The world’s education system is under enormous pressure to expand. India’s young population has a huge appetite for education and as the growth in the size of the middle class escalates, millions are increasingly looking to go for education abroad. It is predicted that by 2020, India will have the largest young population in the world and will have the second largest graduate talent pool globally, following China and ahead of the US. Therefore, the opportunity for the developed nations to engage with India through education is considerably high.

Changing trends
In 2012, five countries hosted nearly half of total students studying abroad. These are the United States (hosting 18 percent), United Kingdom (11 percent), France (seven percent), Australia (seven percent), and Germany (five percent). But the top five also saw their share of international enrollment decline from 55 percent in 2000 to 47 percent in 2012.
Australia and Japan, traditional destinations in East Asia and the Pacific, are rivaled by newcomers China, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and New Zealand, which hosted six percent of the global share of mobile students in 2012.

Emerging Destinations
Two decades back, only the US and the UK were the prime destinations for studying abroad, but in past five years, we have seen a considerable change as other countries have also started attracting students. Some of these countries provide cheaper food and lodging facilities, while some offer courses at affordable fees or provide better job opportunities after completion of the course or have eased the student visa norms. For instance, in 2011, significant number of foreign students were enrolled in Canada (five percent), Japan (four percent), Russia (two percent) and Spain (one percent).
Conversely, the market share of some of the most popular countries has decreased. The share of international students in the United States has dropped from 23 percent to 17 percent between 2000 and 2011, while the share of international students in Germany fell by three percent over the same period.
The reputation of a country’s higher education and its programmes are one of the most important factors which students take into account while deciding where to study. However, immigration policy and language can also turn out to be a bridge or a barrier for international students. As English-speaking destinations are the most attractive ones, an increasing number of non- English-speaking countries have started to offer courses in English in order to overcome their linguistic disadvantage. Finland and Norway have amended their naturalisation laws to take into account the years of residence as a student while assessing eligibility for citizenship. Canada facilitates permanent residence for international graduates. In contrast, countries like the United States and more recently, the United Kingdom have made it more difficult for international students to enter their respective countries.

Mansie Dewan, Founder and Master Coach, Mansie Dewan Consulting, talks about issues of adapting to the new environs while staying abroad for studies

What are the challenges and opportunities for a student in studying abroad?
The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of challenges is home sickness. A young student in a new country has no familiarity with the environment. Other small adaptability issues like the educational methodology and language barrier (if any) are just opportunities to enhance one’s personality, profile and career prospects.
Practical learning, life training through self-dependence and networking are the biggest opportunities. One is tested to step out of their comfort zone almost every day in and out of the classroom.

Which are the most favoured nations to study abroad and why?
The US has always been one of the most favoured study destinations. The country has some of the oldest and most reputable institutions with eminent faculty members renowned for their achievements and new age thinking, but the visa hassles and the exchange rates deter many students, especially because budget is major criterion in selecting a study abroad destination. Of course, the meritorious students often get awarded financial aids and scholarships. The competition is intense but if one has their academics, achievements and extra curriculars in place, they stand a good chance.
Europe, Australia and Canada are also popular, but China and Singapore are emerging as hotspot study destinations for many streams.

Tell us about the students’ most preferred colleges and universities?
Undoubtedly, the Ivy League colleges are the best. US’ top 50 are also popular. There are several great universities in almost every country. Choosing a college depends greatly on locational preference, choice of course and budget. Because of the space crunch, it’s impossible to mention all of them but there are many online resources one can utilise to research on universities and courses. And you also have relevant educational fairs in many cities, from where one can get a lot of information.

What are the eligibility criteria for students, who aspire to study abroad and does it seal a promising career?
The eligibility criteria vary according to country and course. I can speak only for MBA programmes as that is my forte. All good business schools require a GMAT score.
After taking the test, one has many options available across the globe. The advantage of studying at a GMAT accepting school cannot be overemphasised the biggest one is the huge amount of self development involved. One needs a work experience to make it and in the process of garnering this work experience, one must collate industry knowledge and clarity of goals with respect to which function to pursue post MBA.

What is the visa process for students, who opt to study outside India?
The process is very simple. One just needs to follow the guidelines of the embassy of the country they are applying to. Many study abroad companies have their own visa counselors, who guide the students for the process.

What is the expenditure that a student has to bear to study abroad and what is the scope of getting scholarships for the students?
It can range between `10 lakh and `50 lakh annually, depending on the course and country you are in.

“Engineering sector plays crucial role and touches virtually all other industry segments. Engineering in the modern world is applied to fields as diverse as software, genetics, health sciences, finance, etc. Roselin Kiro of Elets News Network (ENN), finds out the transition in engineering education to date”

The engineering education in India is experiencing dramatic changes and is a preferred career choice for a large number of students in the country. The impulse for the creation of centres of technical education came from the British in pre- independence era. It arose out of the necessity for the training of overseers for construction and maintenance of public buildings, roads, canals and ports. It was also important for the training of artisans and craftsmen for the use of instruments needed for the army, navy and survey departments. Many engineering colleges have been started since Independence for triggering development and industrial growth in the country.
There is a massive growth in engineering education in India because of the major investments from severalplayers. But despite this, industry leaders complain about the absence of quality engineers passing out of these institutions. This is accompanied by significant unemployment rate among graduating engineers.

Growth of engineering institutions in India
It is true that engineering institutions have grown at a pace much faster than the economy to nurture the talent. But still the result is poor quality and unemployable graduates. Engineering education has undergone many changes with the advancements in technology and society. It has also met the critical needs and provided the skilled workforce to integrate new developments in the economy. Rishabh Sethi, Chief Operating Officer, SPML Infra Limited said, “Technological changes are happening at a faster pace and engineering world needs to apply some of its skills for further necessary advancements and alter the education of future generations of engineers to stay a tthead.”
According to a report by AICTE, the growth of engineering institutions in India has come down from 43 percent in the academic year 2006-07 to three percent in 2012-13. This decline is assumed to be because of two primary factors. First, weak regulatory mechanisms and second, profit motive of some private players. Large number of engineering institutions are now facing
shutdown after getting a lukewarm response from the students.

Need for Innovative Pedagogy
Engineering education in India is now facing new challenges. Liberalisation of trade and technological progress has changed whole economic scenario. The engineering world has followed trans formation in technology for a long time. Disciplines were added and curricula were reformed in keeping pace with the technological advancement so as to provide the required manpower for economic development. Hence, new approaches to reform system and the content and delivery of technical education are necessary. Professor Dr S Ramachandran, Vice Chancellor, Hindustan University said, “There should be a shift from the textbook learning to the learning by observation and doing. Students should acquire basic knowledge and the professional thought process. Students should master the art of using fundamental concepts to get practical knowledge.”
In order to improve the teachinglearning process, innovative measures should be introduced in the education system. The pedagogy should be ICTenabled, which means video lectures, video animations, virtual labs and simulators video animations, virtual labs and simulators should be used to expand the range of experiments that can be performed by the students. Professor ORS Rao, Vice Chancellor, ICFAI University said, “We give action learning projects to the students so that they can get an opportunity to deploy their classroom learning in practical situations and acquire hands-on skills. It also helps students
to inculcate critical thinking and problem solving skills.”

Prof Avinash Singh, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Emiritus), University of Technology and Management“The accreditation and rating agencies are only embellishments for the institutes for projecting their name in the market. Having better than average labs, classrooms and qualified faculty with good communication skills are more important, in my view, than rating and accreditation agencies”

Importance of Industry Academia linkage
At present, we are witnessing a lot of technological changes. These changes, however, have not been properly used by the engineering graduates in order to compete in the present scenario. It is essential to have industry-academia interactions
as it helps to impart relevant knowledge and be sustainable in the changing conditions. It also helps in understanding the industry’s changing requirements from the graduating students and also to make the students industryready in terms of knowledge and skill development. It is also essential to design new programmes based on new and emerging technologies and modify the curricula of existing programmes. Professor ORS Rao added, “Active help can be taken from the industry to impart
practical hands-on skills to the students through company visits, short industry assignments, internships and projects.Guest lecturers from the experienced industry professionals are also essential for the students to get updated on the latest
technologies and applications in the industry.”
However, present focus of the industry is customer satisfaction, which demands adapting new technologies and innovation so as to stay competitive. Also, resource management is gaining importance which demands a higher standard of skills in a particular specialised area. As a result, many graduates with formal certificates, but no practical knowledge find themselves in
a tough situation as they neither qualify for a job in the modern sector nor have acquired entrepreneurial skills to set up their own businesses.
There is an urgent need to improve academia-industry interaction for the benefit of all the stakeholders, viz. institutions,
industry, students and society. Industry benefits by utilising the knowledge imparted by the academia to improve its cost,
quality and competitiveness by developing in-house technology at a low cost. Industry can also benefit academia by updating
and upgrading the knowledge of the professionals and students through development programmes. Academia benefits by
improving the perspective of teachers and researchers.

Prof Dr S Ramachandran, Vice Chancellor, Hindustan University“There should be a shift from the textbook learning to the learning by observation and doing. Students should acquire basic knowledge and the professional thought process. Students should master the art of using fundamental concepts to get practical knowledge”

Emergence of new engineering courses
With the passage of time, there has been an immense growth in the field of engineering, creating many conventional and unconventional job opportunities. The branches of engineering have diversified introducing many unique and unusual branches of engineering.
Professor Avinash Singh, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Emiritus), University of Technology and Management, Shillong said, “With time, new branches of engineering are emerging. These are Cloud Computing, Virtualisation Technology, Mechatronics, Petroleum Engineering, Oil and Gas Informatics, Business Analytics and Optimisation, Automotive Design Engineering, Infrastructure Development, Biomedical, etc.”

Relevance of accreditation
Accreditation is an indicator of the quality of education being imparted by the colleges and universities concerned. It also
suggests the standard of infrastructure, faculty, teaching and learning methods and research activities in the institution. For mushrooming institutes, standard has never been the priority. In most cases the accreditation and rating agencies are only
embellishment for the institutes to project their name in the market. According to Professor Dr S Ramachandran, “The role
of accreditation is very important. However, there is a need for a body, which will develop accreditation standards through
consultation with key constituents in the academic community such as faculty and administrators along with practitioners in
various fields and members of the public.”

Global recognition of Indian degrees
India is a provisional member of Washington Accord since 2007 and might soon get a full-fledged status by this year. This would in a way enable global recognition of Indian degrees and improve the employability of Indian engineers in other countries. Professor ORS Rao, Vice Chancellor, ICFAI University shares his views on this by saying, “Once India becomes a full-fledged member of Washington Accord, students  looking forward to pursue higher studies abroad, particularly in the US and Europe, need not study extra courses, concurrent with their PG programmes, as is the case right now. It will facilitate recruitment of fresh engineering graduates by overseas employers, as they can correlate the educational standards of the Indian students with degrees in their respective countries. It will also enable Indian Universities and accreditation agencies to standardise their engineering educational standards with those of the other members of Washington Accord (WA).” In a nutshell, it will help in improving overall quality of the engineering education in India.

Expectations of the institutes
Today, technical education needs to be viewed as a long term investment for the promotion of social, economic growth and cultural development. Some of the policy expectations of institutions for the development of institutes are:
>> Clear-cut education policy
>> Increased budget allocation for education specially primary and secondary education
>> Improving quality of secondary education
>> Reforming the structure of secondary education to instill creativity and curiosity among the students.
>> A single authority for looking after the higher education sector.
>> A single authority for accreditation according to international standards.
>> A clear-cut guideline for academiaindustry interaction.
>> Providing substantial incentives for in-house R&D programmes.
>> Substantial financial help to all the institutions based on their accreditation status.
The technical education sector should rapidly adopt and respond to the changing scenario. The technical institutions generate funds from traditional sources like central government, state government, government departments and agencies, alumni and students. But the funding from the government sources is slowly drying up in the context of the new economic and industrial policies that call for privatisation and decreasing role of government in higher education and increasing demands for funding primary education. Therefore, there is an urgent need to look for more funding with innovative strategies.

Prof ORS Rao, Vice Chancellor, ICFAI University “Once India becomes a full-fledged member of Washington Accord, it will facilitate recruitment of fresh engineering graduates by overseas employers as they can correlate the educational standards of the Indian students with degrees in their respective countries”

Engineering educators must also tap the students’ potential, passion, curiosity and dreams. It is only possible if students are taught how to improve their communication skills and how to bring richness in the country’s engineering workforce. Students must also be inculcated the basic understanding of business processes, professional ethics and social responsibilities. Only then, the technical education can flourish.

David Boddy, Principal Partner, Anglo School International Service (ASIS), gives an overview of the challenges and opportunities of studying abroad

What are the problems faced by students applying for overseas studies?

The opportunities to study via digital learning are limitless, but the greatest challenge is to have the motivation to keep going once a start has been made. Too many courses are uncompleted because distance or digital learning requires considerable amount of self motivation.

Which are the most favoured nations to study abroad and why?

Education opportunities are becoming universal. The UK and the US are most favoured as they are recognised all over the world. Digital learning is gaining credibility with employers fast, but it certainly helps when the awarding body of the degree is well known.

Tell us about the students’ most preferred colleges and universities?

This depends on the course. Some of the less well known institutions are gaining high credibility because of the quality of their courses. Students should look for course, which provides what they are looking to learn and then consider the standing of the awarding body.

What are the eligibility criteria for students, who aspire to study abroad and does it seal a promising career?

These vary, but usually digital learning institutions want some evidence of previous academic ability and that the prospective student has the motivation to see the course through. Digital learning offers mature learners new opportunities, so often a reference from an employer, plus a work experience, helps a student get enrolled in a course.

What is the visa requirement for students, who opt to study outside India?

It depends on each country and how much of the digital learning course may be spent abroad.

What is the expenditure that a student has to bear to study abroad and what is the scope of getting scholarships for the students?

Not many institutions offer scholarships for digital learning, but I predict that in the future they will come. Where distance learning courses are in modules, expenditures on a module by module basis are within the capacity of most working people, who are looking to upgrade their qualifications. Students should always shop around, but should be aware that the cheapest course is not usually the best.

Do the agencies, which send students abroad to study, take care of the safety and security of the students?

Yes, the institutions to which they go take care of all forms of security and they are very good at it.

Dr Lissy Vadakel, Director, MDIS School of Health & Life Sciences, talks about the features of overseas studies

What are the challenges and opportunities for a student who decides to study abroad?
A major challenge faced by Indian students is the initial culture shock. Most of the time, students find it difficult to immediately bond with their fellow students from other countries. However, with time, friendships are forged. Older students will normally help the younger ones to blend in with the new environment. Another important aspect is affordability. This is an investment in you. So plan well and budget accordingly so that you can focus on achieving better grades, which will enable you to get better returns on your investment.
In terms of opportunities, one very important aspect is that the varsities abroad have a unique blend of teaching methods. Teachers are a combination of academic experts and industry professionals, who are able to impart knowledge of the current market practices that equip students when they go into employment. With an international degree, the resume gets a typical boost and improves the post-graduation employment prospects. There is a high probability for a decent job if one holds a specialisation from a foreign university and has spent time abroad.

Kindly share with us which are the most favored nations, to study abroad and why?
Every country has a very well-defined, dynamic education system with its own set of value-added offerings Considering the student visa holdings, the United States happens to be a popular destination for Indian students. A significant proportion of students are studying in countries such as UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand and Germany.

What are the eligibility criteria for students to study abroad and does this give a promising career?
While applying for an international university, one has to comply with the criteria set by that particular nation and the university/college. Each country designs the entry requirements of international students differently, which is in accordance with the education system.
A professional education from a foreign university surely adds to ones’ credentials, as in contemporary times, employers seek candidates with international knowledge base and exposure. Skill sets like cross-cultural communication, analytical skills, teamwork, flexibility, an understanding of cultural contexts, the ability to adapt to new circumstances and deal with differences play an important role in selection of prospective candidates worldwide.

What are the visa requirements for students who opt to study outside India?
Students generally require an international student pass to study in an overseas destination. For instance, in order to study in Singapore, one needs a ‘Student Pass’ to be able to pursue the course of their choice. The student pass will include the details of the course applied and the duration. The institutions will make all the necessary applications. Students only have to submit all the required documents about two months in advance of the course commencement date.

What is the expenditure that a student has to bear to study abroad and what is the scope of getting scholarships for the students?
There are different elements to expenditure when one is pursuing education outside India like travel, accommodation, transport, study materials, etc. The overall cost of studying at an international education institution will completely depend upon the programme chosen and the duration.

Vineet Gupta, Founder, Ashoka University and MD, Jamboree Education, talks about the financial aspect of overseas studies

What are the challenges and opportunities for a student to study abroad?
The major challenges for a student are affordability and cultural adjustment. Students have to adapt to an unfamiliar environment and build new networks of support away from their family and home. On the other hand, it is an opportunity to be independent, and to develop an international network of friends. One can learn cross-cultural management and become part of the global economy. The key differentiator is the high quality of education available abroad. By setting up Ashoka University, we are aiming to create access to the highest quality of education in India, and at a significantly lower cost.

Kindly share with us which are the most favored nations to study abroad and why?
The USA is most favoured for the flexibility of the US curriculum, the diverse choice of universities and courses, the support services for international students and the quality of education. The global focus and worldwide recognition of US degrees also greatly improves US graduates’ career prospects. The UK also has a good choice of many established, globally recognised universities. The cost of education is also lower. It is a multicultural nation and the gateway to Europe. Canada is the next most popular choice, also offering academic flexibility and support services for international students. Canada also has a friendly Permanent Residency policy. Finally, Australia has lower entry requirements, and Australian qualifications are recognised by employers and leading educational institutions around the world.
Taking all this into consideration, Ashoka University’s undergraduate curriculum is modelled on the US liberal arts curriculum, and aspires to give a local alternative to the typical Indian format of education.

Which are the most preferred colleges and universities that students sought for?
The students generally look for the most popular universities, such as those in the Ivy League and other top universities in USA like University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, Princeton, Brown, Yale, Harvard, Stanford, MIT, etc. In the UK, there’s Oxford, Cambridge, London Business School, London School of Economics, University of Toronto, York University, University of
Melbourne, etc.

What are the eligibility criteria for students to study abroad and does it give a promising career?
Each country has its own eligibility criteria. In the US, for bachelors’ programmes, tests like SAT 1, SAT 2, TOEFL should be cleared. While academics from IX to XII; personal statement; letters of recommendation and extracurricular activities are needed.
For a masters, tests like GRE, TOEFL, academic records from the student’s bachelors degree, a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities and research work are needed.
For MBAs, tests like GMAT, TOEFL, academic records from bachelors’ onwards, essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities and work experience are needed.
Other countries like the UK require only TOEFL/ IELTS for undergraduate admissions as well as MS admissions barring some top schools like London School of Economics, Oxford and Cambridge.
Australia requires only IELTS for admission in UG as well as MS degrees.

What is the expenditure that a student has to bear to study abroad and what is the scope of getting scholarships for the students?
In general, the expenditure is `22 to 25 lakh per annum (tuition + living) for undergraduates; 18 to 20 lakh per annum (tuition + living) for a masters and `25 to 30 lakh per annum (tuition + living) for an MBA. Scholarships are purely based on merit. Countries like the US and Canada give a lot of scholarships to students at various levels of study

Sumeet Jain, Co-founder, Stupidsid.com, talks about the factors drawing students to the States

What are the eligibility criteria for students, who aspire to study abroad and does it seal a promising career?
Every country and university has different criteria. For US, if you plan to go for any post graduate course, you need to take GRE. For under graduate course, you need to take the SAT. And if planning to go for a management course, then you have to take GMAT.
Students also have to take an English proficiency test apart from the above tests. The universities abroad don’t have a simple cutoff pattern. Every student is expected  to provide a statement of purpose based on which the application is assessed.

Which are the most favoured nations to study abroad and why?
US is still the most favoured nation (MFN). If you see even now most of the best ranking universities are in the US. Opportunities too are really good there, but then it is only for students studying from the good institutes. If students study in the low rung colleges then even in the US, it will be difficult. It also depends on the course a student wants to do. For engineering and MBA, US is still the most favoured nation, but if one wishes to go for hospitality, then Switzerland is the best.

What are the challenges and opportunities for a student in studying abroad?
There are many challenges. First being finance. Education abroad is expensive and not affordable for everyone. This is one of the major concerns when anyone decides on going abroad to study. Culture shock and home sickness are the other big challenges. In India, they have lived in a protected family environment, but when they are abroad, the responsibilities increase. For many Indians, who are not living in the urban cities, language is also a problem. Working is also a big challenge as it isn’t really easy to obtain a work visa or residency there. And coming back to India after education doesn’t give you good Return on Investment (RoI).
Looking at the brighter side, there are many opportunities too. Standard of living is high, opportunity in various fields is comparatively higher. Education is more research and applicationoriented as well as much more updated than in India.

Tell us about the students’ most preferred colleges and universities?
There isn’t a small list that can be jotted down. There are a number of factors to be considered while selecting a college. For each course, there will be a different list. IVY League institutions might be still considered sought after, but then they are quite expensive. So, everyone doesn’t look at these colleges. Many a time, students prefer public universities. But there is no one college that can be said the most sought after college.

What is the expenditure that a student has to bear to study abroad and what is the scope of getting scholarships for the students?
Expenditure depends on the university, course and city. On an average, a good technical course will cost something around `20-50 lakh. Staying costs increase if you are staying in a good city like New York, Los Angeles or Boston. Getting scholarship depends a lot on your academic performance at the under graduate level. Most of the students going for research and PhD get scholarships. Apart from scholarships, Research Assistantship (RA), Teaching Assistantship (TA) are good options to earn some amount on campus.