Fewer US students visit India

Updated on: Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Despite touting to have a good English-speaking faculty and despite being the home ground of most silicon valley entrepreneurs, India fails to attract students from United States of America.

India stands at 14th place when it comes to number of US students going abroad for higher education. However, the sub-continent ranks second as far students joining US educational institutions goes.

The US Institute of International Education recently released the Open Doors report, which is a comprehensive information resource on international students and scholars studying or teaching at higher education institutions in the United States, and U.S. students studying abroad for academic credit at their home colleges or universities.

Of the 2,70,604 US students going abroad for higher education only 3,884 came to India in 2009-10, an increase of 44.4 per cent over the previous year’s figures. Countries like South Africa (13th rank — 4,313 students), Costa Rica (10th rank —- 6,262 students), Italy (2nd place — 27,940 students) and Mexico (8th rank —7,157 students) have attracted more US students than India.

However students from India, the second largest international segment in the United States, decreased by one percent to a total now of nearly 1.04 lakhs. While slightly declining in numbers, students from India still represent 14 percent of all international students in U.S. higher education.

Asked about his comments on the issue, Dr John E. Dooley, vice-president, Virginia Tech said it is because of lack of knowledge about the 21st century India among US students that the numbers are less.

“I think US students need to visit India and interact with universities here to prepare themselves to see the global market place. US students don’t know India but they have learnt more about South Africa in the last decade as the football world cup in South Africa did a remarkable job to introduce the country to US students,” he said.

Former Anna University vice-chancellor and member of state planning commission Prof. E. Balagurusamy recalled that a couple of years ago University Grants Commission (UGC) constituted a committee and conducted visit India programme but that did not yield any big results.

“Indian Universities don’t offer different courses which the American students want to study and also the institutions don’t provide proper accommodation and security. So I don’t think we will get more US students. We should provide courses like study about Indian heritage, culture and temples which they would like to take up”, he pointed out.

Fewer US students visit India

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