There has been a considerable hike of 68% in the number of Indian students moving to study abroad in 2022. Indian students will be contributing to a higher percentage in study abroad by 2030.
On Monday, 6th Feb 2023, the Ministry of education told Lok Sabha that over 30 lakh Indian students have migrated overseas for education between 2017- 2022. There has been a constant hike in the number of students migrating overseas from 454,000 in 2017 to 517,000 in 2018 and 586,000 in 2019. Due to COVID-19, the number fell in 2020 to 259,000. However, again the number has increased to 750,365 in 2022 setting up a new record.
Subhas Sarkar, the Union Education Minister of State responded to the query of Lok Sabha in a written document that Indian students are willing to study abroad for higher education. He told that the main purpose of students leaving the country to study abroad is based on “either their verbal disclosure or the type of visa of the destination country produced by them at the time of immigration clearance”.
In the parliament, the minister asks for the plan of the education committee to set up an International University in India. Mr. Sarkar replied to the question that there are no such plans to set up any foreign university in the country. Though, University Grants Commission (UGC) has drafted Regulations on setting-up foreign campuses seeking feedback and comments on the same by 18th January 2023. As per the requests from the stakeholder, the last date for submission of comments is extended to 20th Feb 2023.
The number is likely to double by the end of 2030, and Indian students will be accounting for a larger percentage. M Jagadesh Kumar, chairperson of UGC says that the aim of inviting foreign universities is not to limit students to go to study abroad. It is the free will of students to study to opt for going out to explore international possibilities. Through the set-up of a foreign university in the country, Indian students will get an opportunity to choose whether they want to stay in India and access high-quality foreign education or move abroad for studies.