Encouraging studies abroad

Foreign universities and institutions pay special attention to attracting students from South India, especially Chennai.

THE United Kingdom and the Unites States are increasingly attracting students from India. Nearly 13 per cent of the international students admitted in U.S. universities in 2002-2003 were from India. (India topped as the country of origin of foreign students for the second year in a row.)

According to U.K. government figures, there are about 14,000 Indian students, 43 per cent of them from South India, studying in various universities there. The figure has grown constantly in the last three years, according to Eunice Crook, First Secretary (Cultural Affairs), British Council Division, British Deputy High Commission, Chennai. About 75 per cent of these students are doing post-graduate courses. The reason the students prefer to do master's courses in Britain is that they constitute only 12 months of intensive study. "This is a big advantage, and it is cost-effective," says Crook.

The U.K. has a variety of institutions that offer a wide range of courses. Apart from the well-established ones such as Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh Universities, the University of St. Andrews, the University of Aberdeen, the University of Wales and the London School of Economics, there are city-based universities. Importantly, the U.K. has a good system of accreditation and ratings for universities and their departments.

According to Stuart Innes, the U.K.'s Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai, the fact that nearly half of the Indian students studying in the U.K. are from South India "speaks for itself - the quality of education and the quality of students in South India".

Most students choose management, Information Technology (IT) or engineering courses. "We are also seeing an increasing number of people who opt for Biotechnology and Biosciences. These are new, emerging subjects," says Crook. Students also opt for law, social sciences and basic sciences. "But the biggest market undoubtedly is for (courses) in management, IT and engineering," she says.

Two educational fairs are held every year in India, in which 70 educational institutions from Britain take part regularly. In November the fairs are held in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. In February, they take place in Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and also in New Delhi and Mumbai. Crook says that British universities that take part in these educational fairs have "a lot of commitment to the Indian market, and particularly successful are those who have adapted their courses to the Indian market or have invested in setting up an office (in India)". For instance, Cardiff University has a Master's in Business Administration programme that specifically targets Indian students with some kind of business experience in India.

Innes describes the educational fairs as "very successful, with a huge turnout" and provoking "great interest" among students. On whether these fairs would not amount to the commercialisation of education, he said that "they (the U.K. universities) have to stay in business" and that there is no mercenary attitude in this. "The idea behind the fairs is to find a match between the students and the subjects - the right course for the right student so that he can get the maximum benefits," says Innes.

The British Council Division plays an important role in helping Indian students pursue their studies in the U.K. At the British Council Library there are four dedicated computer terminals that provide information through websites about how to apply for a visa, how to choose a university and so on.

At the fair, each institution has a stand (a stall) with staff from its international office and faculty, so the parents and their wards can talk directly to them about the courses, the fee structure, the scholarships available and so on. Many universities require the Indian students to write the IELT (International English Language Test). This is not mandatory but helps in the visa process.

The British Council Division provides information packs in order to ensure that the students receive correct information. The Division also brings out two magazines - Postgraduate U.K. and Club U.K., the latter meant for Indian students.

A number of scholarships, including 120 British Chevening scholarships, are available to Indian students.

ACCORDING to R. Seetha Lakshmi, Regional Officer (Southern Region and Educational Adviser), United States Educational Foundation in India, Chennai, an analysis of the profiles of the students from South India indicates that nearly 90 per cent of them are interested in graduate (master's and doctorate) studies. An average of 54 per cent are interested in engineering fields and 20 per cent in computer science. The USEFI offers authentic and unbiased information on higher studies through an information desk, a reference library and group and individual advising. The official website educationusa.state.gov provides valuable information to aspiring students.