Rapid globalisation has fuelled large scale commercialisation of higher education leading to the establishment of education as a tradeable service. A deliberate and conscious implication of this establishment has been the internationalisation of higher education, facilitated and sustained through large flows of internationally mobile students making education a key driver of migration. This mobility has been facilitated by the availability of cheaper and faster means of travel and communication, and free movement of money and capital. The number of internationally mobile students has risen from 2 million in the year 2000 to over 5.3 million in the year 2017 (UNESCO). The top destination for students has been the United States of America, United Kingdom, Australia and Russia (Ibid.).
In this sphere, India has emerged as a significant player as a leading consumer and provider of education services. It is noteworthy that India’s changing demographic structure coupled with socio-economic advancement has contributed to its position as a major country of origin for international student migration. Many Indian students are also choosing European nations to pursue advanced studies. Within Europe from the years 2008-2016; Germany (1174 to 4056), Cyprus (826 to 3192), France (803 to2587), Poland (241 to 2657), Ireland (642 to 2339) and the Netherlands (317 to 1475) have witnessed a sharp increase in the number of permits issued for Indian students for education purposes over the last years (Eurostat figures).
Given that the global mobility of Indian students for higher education constitutes a substantial portion of emigration from India, it is pertinent to ideate strategies that can facilitate efficient and productive migration. Additionally, increased international student migration presents an ideal opportunity to maximise its developmental impact not only through prospective flow of remittances but also through skill enhancement and knowledge transfer.
Against this backdrop- the India Centre for Migration (ICM) is organising a panel discussion on Students’ Mobility: Challenges, Opportunities and Prospects on the 15th of January 2020. Participants of the panel discussion will be drawn from think tanks, higher educational institutions, government bodies, UN Agencies, civil society etc. This Panel discussion will deliberate on the existing trends of student migration and mobility from India. This entails identifying student migration patterns by mapping popular study destinations and identifying prominent degrees and programmes chosen by Indian students.
Panellists will also discuss best policy practices concerning student migration including analysing the growing restrictionism in immigration policies, flagging cultural, linguistic and financial barriers in availing education and employment, balancing increasing student intake vis a vis paucity of skill gaps in different countries and recognition and equivalence of degrees in India and abroad. Participants will also be encouraged to mark existing skill gaps across different regions which could enhance post-study employability and high skilled migration. The discussion will conclude with a deliberation on the challenges and the way forward.