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| Latest
News |
| 26th
July 2010 / Business Standard |
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Students bypass Australia Indian students are giving
a pass to the former hot study
destination, Australia, in
favour of evergreen destinations
like the UK, US and Canada.
Changes in visa laws, coupled
with a host of ‘racially-motivated’ acts
of violence, appear to be the
main concern for Indian students
going to Australia. “In
the last academic year itself,
we saw an overall decline of
more than 60 per cent in Indian
students going to Australia.
The market is going through
a correction mode as there
was an unrealistic and unsustainable
increase in the number of students
that went to countries such
as Australia and New Zealand
because of the permanent residence
(PR) options available. Students
keen on getting the PR only
may change their plans,” says
Naresh Gulati, CEO, Oceanic
Consultants.
Pranjal Kalita, Asst Manager-Marketing
at IDP Education, concurs there
are two kinds of students going
abroad — those who are
serious about education and
those who prefer foreign countries
for their livelihood and immigration
purposes. While there has been
an overall decline of 50 per
cent in the students going
to Australia this year due
to its new skilled occupation
list, “there has not
been much decline in the number
of students sincere about pursuing
only education in that country”.
Gulati points out that unscrupulous
students are prepared to do
anything to go overseas including
using fraudulent means. They
generally opt for courses and
institutions that have a lower
course fee and do not demand
serious studies. With visa
offices for almost all countries
becoming vary of this segment,
student visas are increasingly
being denied. Thus, the fall
in numbers.
Amit Menghani, president, Federation
of Indian Students of Australia
(FISA), agrees that the estimated
enrollment of Indian students
in Australia has dropped by
45 per cent this year. “Indian
students are reluctant to consider
Australia for private education
after many fake colleges closed
in Australia. In fact, many
students are now planning to
go back after the changes in
the immigration and other policies,” he
says.He, however, adds that “Indian
students may choose other countries
this year but opportunities
might rise again in Australia
depending upon the requirement
of the students.”
CHANGING LOYALTIES
Student enrolment in education abroad |
Country
|
Year
|
Total number
of Indian students |
US |
2007 |
76000 |
2008 |
94563 |
2009 |
1,03,260 |
UK |
2007 |
19000 |
2008 |
29000 |
2009 |
31320 |
Australia
|
2007 |
63604 |
2008 |
95000 |
2009 |
98000 |
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