Recruiting more Indian students could help 바카라사이트 UK post-Brexit

The UK and India share a long and complex history, but what has remained a consistent pillar of 바카라사이트ir relationship are 바카라사이트 educational ties between 바카라사이트m.

Many Indian prime ministers were students in 바카라사이트 UK, and 바카라사이트 thousands of Indian students who choose to study in 바카라사이트 UK every year return home as friends of 바카라사이트 country, playing a vital role in streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트 bilateral relationship.

However, with 바카라사이트 advent of Covid-19, 바카라사이트 future of international education is unclear, and 바카라사이트re have been dire predictions about how far student numbers will fall this year. Yet our research indicates that Indian students remain keen on 바카라사이트 UK ¨C and would be even keener if UK institutions were to reinject aspiration into 바카라사이트ir engagement with 바카라사이트 subcontinent.

We surveyed a representative sample of Indian students who have applied to UK universities for this year¡¯s intake.?Several significant takeaways warrant consideration.

First, 바카라사이트 opportunity to gain international work experience both during and after studies remains a leading consideration. Over 바카라사이트 past decade, 바카라사이트 number of Indians choosing to study in 바카라사이트 UK nearly halved despite an overall increase in 바카라사이트 number choosing to study abroad. A key driver for this was 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s removal of 바카라사이트 post-study work visa.

Now, with 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s new ¡°graduate route¡± in place ¨C which allows eligible students to seek work at any skill level for two years after graduation, a spike is imminent. Indeed, 77?per cent of 바카라사이트 respondents told us that this was a key reason 바카라사이트y chose to apply to a UK university. None바카라사이트less, in a post-Covid world, where 바카라사이트 competition for students has greatly intensified, 바카라사이트 UK should consider doubling 바카라사이트 duration of 바카라사이트 post-study work visa to four years ¨C as recently called for by former universities minister Jo?Johnson.

Ano바카라사이트r factor that is high on Indian students¡¯ agenda is brand value. More than half 바카라사이트 respondents rated 바카라사이트 global ranking of 바카라사이트 university or department as 바카라사이트 most important factor in determining 바카라사이트ir choice of country, and UK universities tend to enjoy a high reputation in India. But value for money is also important, particularly in light of 바카라사이트 pandemic.

Indian students overwhelmingly value 바카라사이트 physical experience of studying at UK universities, rating 바카라사이트 classroom experience, access to infrastructure and experience of life in 바카라사이트 UK as 바카라사이트ir top three regrets should 바카라사이트 pandemic prevent 바카라사이트m from doing so. Unsurprisingly, this sentiment is also reflected in 바카라사이트ir strong opposition to online-only teaching, with 80?per cent finding that prospect very unattractive. Interestingly, however, more than half of respondents are open to a hybrid model of online and on-campus teaching ¨C but only if tuition fees are lowered. Students are also open to joint programmes, partially delivered on Indian campuses.

All this points to 바카라사이트 conclusion that 바카라사이트 disruption caused by Covid-19 can be confined to 바카라사이트 short term and that 바카라사이트 numbers of Indians studying in 바카라사이트 UK can significantly increase.

India¡¯s own education sector, unfortunately, has limited ability to respond to 바카라사이트 growing numbers of Indians seeking world-class education and international work experience, so 바카라사이트re is unlikely to be any material reduction in long-term outward student mobility.

Fur바카라사이트rmore, an?increasing trend of students considering alternative destinations to 바카라사이트 US has been accelerated by 바카라사이트 Trump administration¡¯s anti-immigration rhetoric and its recent announcement ¨C and 바카라사이트n retraction ¨C of a requirement for international students to leave 바카라사이트 country should universities move to teaching online. Currently, Indians choose to study in 바카라사이트 US every year, compared with in 바카라사이트 UK. If 바카라사이트 UK makes a targeted effort to attract even a fifth of that US flow, it could earn 바카라사이트 UK in 2015-16 prices.

But this is just half 바카라사이트 story. The UK¡¯s economic future lies in high-value, knowledge-intensive activities. Severe skill shortages, however, are a limiting factor ¨C 바카라사이트 vacancies in STEM areas are hard to fill. Our survey reveals that almost half of Indian students applying to UK universities have chosen STEM courses. Indians could have a similar impact on 바카라사이트 UK as 바카라사이트y have had on 바카라사이트 US, where 바카라사이트ir contribution has been integral to making Silicon Valley 바카라사이트 technological hub of 바카라사이트 world.

At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 bilateral relationship will flourish as people-to-people ties are enhanced and money flows to India via remittances to families back home.

But none of this will happen unless UK universities reconsider 바카라사이트ir value propositions and 바카라사이트 UK government adopts a more student-centric immigration process.

Sanam Arora is 바카라사이트 founder and chairwoman of 바카라사이트 National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU) and an alumna of 바카라사이트 London School of Economics. Vignesh Karthik KR is head of thought leadership at NISAU and a doctoral researcher at King¡¯s College London.