Category: Education

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GB Students, Parents Protest Against Fee Hike in Schools

The students have complained that their schools lack even the basic requirements, they do not have furniture, they have to sit in open classrooms and have no drinking water facility….reports Asian Lite News

Hundreds of school students in Gilgit along with their parents took to the streets against unreasonable hikes in their school fees.

The students have complained that their schools lack even the basic requirements, they do not have furniture, they have to sit in open classrooms and have no drinking water facility.

A disgruntled student speaking about the condition of his school, said, “We have gathered here to protest against the unwarranted fee hike in our schools. They are increasing school fees every other day. If they are increasing the fee, what facilities are they providing us? We do not have cool water to drink during scorching summers. There is no proper arrangement for drinking water”

They complain, that there are no teachers in their school for certain subjects and often the classrooms are herded with students with no one to impart knowledge and education.

“There is no teacher appointed for the subject of Physics. We do not have a regular teacher for Physics. There is nothing in our science lab. They do not teach us anything, we are just herded inside the room. Our motive behind paying the fee is not this!,” the student added.

The public schools in Gilgit-Baltistan have been in dire straits for decades. The local administration has turned a blind eye to the education sector in the illegally occupied territory.

Earlier, Karakoram University students also held similar protests against the administration for unreasonable increases in their college fees.

It has been a continuous attempt of Islamabad to keep the youngsters of Gilgit Baltistan deprived of education and other human development opportunities.

In such a scenario becoming an educated and intellectual individual is still a distant dream for the young population of Gilgit-Baltistan. (ANI)

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Education India News

UGC Unveils New Regulations for Foreign Universities

The release further stated that the qualifications awarded to the students in the Indian campuses shall be recognised and treated as equivalent to the corresponding qualifications awarded by the FHEI in the main campus located in the country of origin…reports Asian Lite News

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Wednesday issued the regulations to facilitate the entry of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) into India, in line with the recommendations of the National Education Policy 2020, and to provide an international dimension to higher education in the country.

In their Indian campuses, Foreign Higher Educational Institutions can offer study programmes leading to the award of certificates, diplomas, degrees, research and other programmes at the undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral and post-doctoral levels, the UGC said in a release.

The regulations are called, “University Grants Commission (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023.”

These regulations aim to ensure that the education imparted in the campus is at par with that of the main campus in the country of origin and that its operations comply with the applicable laws and Regulations, the UGC said.

As per the release, the FHEIs intending to establish campuses in India should have secured a position within the top 500 in the overall category of global rankings, as decided by the UGC from time to time, or should have secured a position within the top 500 in the subject-wise category of global rankings/ should possess outstanding expertise in a particular area, as decided by the Commission from time to time.

The release further stated that the qualifications awarded to the students in the Indian campuses shall be recognised and treated as equivalent to the corresponding qualifications awarded by the FHEI in the main campus located in the country of origin.

“The qualifications awarded under these Regulations shall be equivalent to any corresponding degree awarded by Indian higher educational institutions. There shall be no further requirement of seeking equivalence from any authority. The degree shall have all benefits, rights, and privileges as obtained in the case of a degree awarded by Indian Higher Educational Institutions ordinarily,” the UGC release read.

Two or more than two Foreign Higher Educational Institutions can collaborate to set up campuses in India, provided each Foreign Higher Educational Institution meets the eligibility criteria individually.

The campuses of FHEIs in India shall have the autonomy to recruit faculty and staff as per their recruitment norms. However, the FHEIs shall ensure that the qualifications of the faculty appointed shall be at par with the main campus in the country of origin, it added.

Also, the institutes shall have a mechanism to address students’ grievances in their Indian campus. However, the students may appeal to the Commission if the institutes do not redress their grievances.

No programmes can be offered online and/or in Open and Distance Learning modes under these Regulations. However, lectures in online mode not exceeding 10 per cent of the programme requirements are allowed, the release mentioned.

As per the UGC regulations, the FHEIs are required to seek prior approval from the Commission before starting any new programme on their campus in India. The qualification(s) offered in the campus of the FHEI in India under these regulations shall be awarded under the name and seal of the FHEI in the country of origin, it added.

Also, the UGC has separately mentioned the requirements in case of a joint venture between FHEI and Indian Universities or any Indian company. Further details regarding the UGC regulations are available on the Commission’s official website. (ANI)

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Education India News Tech Lite

India’s Higher Education Soars to New Heights

UAE resumes in-person education

Seven Indian universities have secured positions in the top 100 in Asia. …reports Asian Lite News

India emerged as Global Leader as it overtook China in the recently released QS Asia Universities Rankings 2024.

With record number of 148 Indian Universities featuring amongst the top Asian Universities, India became the Nation with highest number of universities ranking in the QS Asia Universities Ranking 2024 followed by China with 133 Universities.

This has been the highest number ever of Indian Universities to feature amongst the Asian Top Universities, with 37 new entrants. China has only 7 new entrants this year.

In this edition, a total of 857 institutions from 25 Asian countries were ranked. The performance of Indian Universities this year has been remarkable as there is notable 33% increase in the number of universities ranked from the previous year.

Seven Indian universities have secured positions in the top 100 in Asia. Furthermore, Indian statistical institutes have made a remarkable debut, securing the 220th position in the QS Asia rankings. IIT Bombay, retained its position in the Asian Top 50, by securing 40th Rank in Asia. It remained the leading institution amongst the Indian Universities in QS Asia Universities Ranking 2024 while Chandigarh University has climbed to the top spot (1st) amongst the India’s private Universities.

The transformation of India’s higher education system, currently the world’s third largest, has been significantly influenced by the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP-2020) by the present government. This historic decision has catalysed groundbreaking changes, marking a crucial milestone in the country’s education sector after a hiatus of 34 years. The reforms introduced through NEP-2020 have played a pivotal role in elevating the standards of education in India, propelling the nation’s education ecosystem onto an innovative and progressive path.

CU clinches top spot among private universities

Continuing its success streak, Chandigarh University (CU) has clinched its top spot among the private universities in India, in the QS Asia University rankings 2024 – while soaring to 149th spot this year compared to 185th spot secured in the previous edition of the ranking (2023).

The University is at the 11th spot among the public and private universities of the country. Besides this, the university has been ranked in the top 1.1% of all universities in Asia. CU is also ahead of nine IITs and five NITs and has surpassed many international universities in the QS World Ranking, including the universities from China, Japan, and South Korea and other nations.

Chandigarh University stands proudly among India’s top 15 universities on six parameters – academic reputation, employee reputation, international student ratio, international faculty ratio, inbound student exchange and outbound student exchange. CU actively promotes cultural exchange through outbound and inbound exchange programs, enriching students’ experiences and shaping future leaders.

Speaking about the performance of Indian universities in the QS Asia Rankings 2024, Chandigarh University Chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu said, “Indian Universities have performed exceptionally well in the QS Asia Rankings 2024, which is a matter of pride for the Nation. A total of 148 Indian Universities have featured in the rankings this year in comparison to 111 Universities ranked in 2023 rankings, showcasing an increase of 33% in just one year. Chancellor Chandigarh University attributed the remarkable performance of Indian Universities to the ground breaking reforms undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the last 9 years.

He said, “When PM Modi came into power in 2014, there were only 16 Indian universities that held ranks in the QS Asia University Rankings. However, today under the visionary leadership of PM Modi, India has recorded the highest tally of 148 Universities in the Top Asian Universities, surpassing China’s number of 133. This incredible increase in the number of Indian universities entering the QS Asia Rankings in just a span of 9 years is a historical achievement. It underscores the nation’s commitment to academic excellence and highlights its growing influence in higher education global.”

Satnam Singh Sandhu further added, “Since PM Modi launched and implemented the New Education Policy (NEP-2020), it marked India’s journey towards becoming a Vishwa Guru. Since then, there has been an exemplary improvement in education standards that matches global criterion, increase in the number of international students, and growth and achievements in research and innovation in the country, which has led to Indian universities getting their due recognition in the global rankings.”

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Australia Education Iraq

Australian Universities Collaborate to Build Opportunities for Refugee Education

The consortium will represent the 12 participating universities and work with the federal government, businesses and not-for-profit organisations to identify best practice models of refugee education…reports Asian Lite News

 Twelve Australian universities have established a new consortium to help build pathways to higher education for refugees, it was announced on Monday.

Led by Canberra’s Australian National University (ANU) , the Australian Refugee Welcome University Sponsorship Consortium (ARWUSC) will offer refugees in the country who were displaced by conflict the opportunity to restart their education, reports Xinhua news agency.

Bronwyn Parry, a leading global health and social medicine researcher from ANU and co-lead of ARWUSC, said in a media release that the formation of the new organisation marks the start of a new chapter in Australia’s refugee history.

“Refugees have historically made a very important contribution to modern Australia, building the successful, harmonious multicultural society we have today. They have also made significant inputs to our economy and can play a key role in driving our future prosperity and social wellbeing,” she said.

The consortium will represent the 12 participating universities and work with the federal government, businesses and not-for-profit organisations to identify best practice models of refugee education.

The government has committed to increasing Australia’s humanitarian refugee intake to 20,000 places in the financial year 2023-24, an increase of 2,125 from 2022-23.

Brian Schmidt, the Vice-Chancellor of ANU, said the consortium would deliver long-term benefits to Australia by offering opportunities to “extremely talented” young people who have had their educational journey disrupted.

“We need to do something to address this, and this team of higher education experts, led by ANU, is leading the charge with the help of the Australian government,” he said. 

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Business Education India News

High-Profile Exits At Unacademy Continue

It’s the second senior exit at the edtech startup in recent months….reports Asian Lite News

High-profile exits at Gaurav Munjal-run edtech company Unacademy continue and now, its chief financial officer (CFO) Subramanian Ramachandran has quit, according to reports.

It’s the second senior exit at the edtech startup in recent months.

“Ramachandran has put down his papers and is currently serving his notice period,” said a report by The Morning Context report, citing sources.

In August, Unacademy’s chief operating officer Vivek Sinha had resigned.

The company was yet to comment on the latest development, as the online edtech sector in the country is reeling under massive slowdown since last year.

In November last year, Unacademy laid off around 350 employees, approximately 10 per cent of its workforce.

This was followed by another round of layoffs in March this year, which led to a further reduction of about 12 per cent or more than 350 employees.

Munjal announced to reduce the size of the team by 12 per cent to “meet the goals we are chasing in the current realities we face”.

“The global economy is enduring a recession, funding is scarce and running a profitable business is key. We have to adapt to these changes, build and operate in a much leaner manner so we can truly create value for our users and shareholders,” Munjal said.

Late last month, Unacademy-owned software-as-a-service platform Graphy laid off about 20-30 per cent of its workforce, or nearly 50 employees, as part of a restructuring exercise.

A spokesperson from Graphy had said that “we are committed to growth and have a strong belief in our mission to empower creators and educators to scale their online brands and business by launching their online courses and selling them through our platform.”

“We continue to make significant strides in achieving our goals, and our commitment to our mission is unwavering,” it added.

According to the company, the job cuts happened on the basis of performance and had nothing to do with layoffs or revenue growth plans.

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NCERT’s ‘India’ to ‘Bharat’ Proposal Sparks Political Debate

Kerala CM suggests that the new directives continue a pattern of biased omissions in educational materials….reports Asian Lite News

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that the recent proposal by the National Council of Educational Research and Training to replace ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ in textbooks is unacceptable, but Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said that is not an issue.

Vijayan, in a statement issued here on Thursday night, said as per the decision of NCERT’s Committee on Social Science, the word ‘India’ should be changed to ‘Bharat’ in the textbooks of the academic branch.

“The Constitution refers to our nation as both India and Bharat. The politics behind avoiding India in it is as clear as daylight. The Sangh Parivar fears the inclusive politics represented by the phenomenon called India. The hatred against the word India is part of this,” he said.

While Khan using the same argument said there is nothing wrong in it as the Constitution mentions both India and Bharat and hence it’s fine.

However Vijayan goes on to add that the latest directives should be perceived as an extension of the previous instances of bigoted omissions from educational materials, which encompass the chapters concerning Mughal history and the ban on RSS in the aftermath of Gandhi’s assassination.

“The NCERT is continually supporting efforts by the Sangh Parivar to distort history. The Textbook Committee has been eager to promote the fake narratives of history that the Parivar has been peddling,” pointed out Vijayan.

“The Sangh Parivar has always been opposed to the idea of an ‘India’ based on pluralism and coexistence. The NCERT’s new proposal is the latest example,” he added and urged democratic forces in the country to oppose the unconstitutional proposals in the NCERT committee’s position paper.

Governor Supports Dual Usage

Reacting to the recommendations of a panel of the NCERT to replace the name ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ in school textbooks, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan said that it is the constitution which uses both words–India and Bharat. Speaking to the Media, Arif Mohammad Khan said, “Actually our Constitution says and uses both the words, India that is Bharat shall be a union of states…Nobody has proposed to make any amendment in the Constitution.”

This comes as an NCERT panel, headed by historian CI Issac, recommended replacing ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ in school textbooks. The recommendations were made by a seven-member Committee for Social Sciences, which is among the committees constituted by the NCERT to prepare position papers on various subjects. Issac said, the “term India started being used commonly only after the establishment of the East India Company and the battle of Plassey in 1757″.”We have unanimously recommended that the ‘Bharat’ should be used in textbooks for students across classes,” Isaac said.

Ever since the panel came up with the aforementioned recommendation, opposition leaders have made a huge outcry over the issue with some even alleging that the BJP government is trying to create “confusion” as several institutions use ‘India’ in their names.
Labelling the move as a “political decision”, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said, “It is unfortunate that an India Vs Bharat narrative is being put forward. (The words) ‘India that is Bharat’ were inscribed into our Constitution by none other than Dr. BR Ambedkar. The coming generations won’t forgive them (the Centre) for making this differentiation. India is also Bharat and Hindustan for us. If the BJP had any sense of national pride, the name ‘India’ wouldn’t be changed to ‘Bharat’.”

Meanwhile NCERT on Wednesday said that “it is too premature to comment” on reports in sections of media concerning changing ‘India’ to ‘Bharat’ in its textbooks and noted that the development of a new syllabus and textbooks is in the process for which groups of domain experts are being notified by it. (ANI)

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British Council Seeks Applicants for UK Alumni Awards

Winners of the prestigious Alumni Awards will be able to raise their international profile and build professional networks and business connections….reports Asian Lite News

British Council, the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, is inviting applications for the 10th edition of its prestigious Study UK Alumni Awards programme. It is dedicated to honouring the remarkable accomplishments of UK alumni worldwide.

The Study UK Alumni Awards feature four categories to spotlight exceptional achievements and impact in various fields: Science and Sustainability, Culture and Creativity, Social Action and Business and Innovation. Eligible applicants will have the opportunity to compete on both the Global and National stages of the Alumni Awards. Global Alumni Award recipients will gain a chance to boost their international profiles, expand their professional networks, and enrich their careers with a professional networking visit to the UK. Additionally, a select number of countries, including India, will host national ceremonies to honour their finalists. The last date to submit applications is 22nd October 2023.

Winners of the prestigious Alumni Awards will be able to raise their international profile and build professional networks and business connections. Additionally, they will win a professional networking visit to the UK. All eligible applicants will be put forward for the global Alumni Awards. The finalists and winners of the global Alumni Awards will be announced in 2024 and celebrated in a digital campaign that will raise the profile of their story and success.

For many years the UK has been one of the most popular study destinations for Indian students and the number of students from India to the UK has witnessed a significant jump. In fact, a total of 142,848 sponsored study visas were granted to Indians in the year ending June 2023, which highlighted an increase of about 54% compared to the previous year, as per the UK Home Office data. This mobility is powered by the achievements of Indian alumni who have made substantial contributions to their communities, industries, and nations. The International Alumni Awards programme, recognises such alumni and honours them and their work that inspires others around them.

Last year, the award received over 1,200 applications from UK alumni residing in nearly 100 countries. These applicants represented more than 120 higher education institutions located throughout the UK. After in-depth interviews with a judging panel, the following winners were selected for the National Awards in India:

– Abhinav Sinha, Winner of Science and Sustainability Award (University of Glasgow)

– Puja Changoiwala, Winner of Culture and Creativity Award (University of Westminster)

– Sugandha Yadav, Winner of Social Action Award (Durham University)

– Saumya Singh, Winner of Business and Innovation Award (University of Manchester)

Talking about the awards, Rittika Chanda Parruck, Director Education, British Council India, said, “Through the Study UK Alumni Awards, we recognise the exceptional achievements of UK alumni from around the world. These individuals have harnessed the knowledge and experiences gained during their time at UK universities to bring about positive change in their communities and beyond. The awards not only celebrate their outstanding contributions but also underscore the enduring value of a UK higher education. We invite all eligible alumni to apply and share their inspiring stories with us.”

Abhinav Sinha, Winner of Science and Sustainability Award 2023, “Participating and being recognised at the Study UK Alumni Awards has been a real honour. The awards present a wonderful opportunity for alumni to connect with people, build networks and present their achievements building their profile further. I am delighted to have been recognized for the application of the knowledge and skills I gained in the UK, to my work in India. I am glad that the Alumni Awards led me to showcase the impact I have been able to make because of my education in the UK, which has enabled me to reach my full potential and expand my career.”

For comprehensive details on how to apply, categories, application process and eligibility criteria, please visit https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/alumni-awards.

21-year-old Shreya Spends Day as UK High Commissioner

21-year-old Shreya Dharmarajan from Chennai became the British High Commissioner to India for one full day, getting a rare behind-the-scenes look at the life of a diplomat and seeing the UK-India partnership in action.

The British High Commission in New Delhi has organised the ‘High Commissioner for a Day’ competition every year since 2017, to celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11.

The UK is committed to engaging with girls and shifting our power to them as change-makers and future leaders. Protecting and promoting freedoms for women and girls in the UK and around the world is the right and smart thing to do; it is integral to creating resilient economies and strong, free societies.

This year’s winning entry was chosen from a pool of more than 180 applications from talented young women around the country.

Shreya holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi and currently teaches in a government school in Mumbai as a Teach for India fellow. She is passionate about education and child psychology. Shreya’s trip to Delhi and stay was made possible through the kind contribution of partners Vistara Airlines and Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.

Shreya, the High Commissioner for the Day said, “Spending a day as the British High Commissioner to India was an incredibly enlightening, enriching, and fulfilling experience. I had the opportunity to interact with and learn from inspiring exemplars of women’s leadership in wide-ranging fields. I was fortunate enough to be a part of lively discussions about India’s efforts toward further achieving the Sustainable Development Goals”.

“I witnessed first-hand the wonders of the India-UK ASPIRE Programme in helping the development of electric vehicles in India and was honoured to speak with the principal scientific Adviser. I have brought back with me life-long learning about gender equality, wholesome education, and the wider scope of the SDGs. This experience has instilled in me a newfound confidence and motivation, and I look forward to putting all my learnings to fruitful use as a young woman in the field of education,” she added.

Alex Ellis, the British High Commissioner to India, but Deputy High Commissioner for Tuesday, said, “It was fantastic to follow Shreya for the day, her conversations from the role of young women in tackling global challenges to the UK-India partnership on science, technology and innovation.

“The High Commissioner for a Day competition is a great reminder for us all of the potential of a world with gender equality. When women rise, we all rise,” he added.

As the UK’s top diplomat in India, Shreya got to experience an exciting range of activities over the course of a fully-packed day.

She led discussions at the United Nations office in New Delhi on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), spoke to one of this year’s Earthshot Prize finalists about their innovative initiatives to tackle global environmental challenges, engaged with the inspiring women leaders of the ‘Chevening SheLeads programme’, and met Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India Professor Ajay Sood, to review plans to bolster UK-India research collaboration following the G20 Summit.

Shreya also launched a new report on electric vehicle charging infrastructure with the Delhi Transport Department, as part of the Accelerating Smart Power and Renewable Energy in India (ASPIRE) bilateral technical assistance programme. (ANI)

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19 Million Children Miss School in Sudan

sudan crisis (https://twitter.com/UNOCHA_Sudan)

Even before the conflict erupted on April 15, nearly 7 million children were already out of school….reports Asian Lite News

An estimated 19 million children in Sudan are out of school as the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) approaches the six-month mark next week, the Unicef and Save the Children said in a joint statement.

Out of this total, some 6.5 million children lost access to school due to increased violence and insecurity in their region, with at least 10,400 schools shuttered in conflict-affected areas, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying.

Meanwhile, over 5.5 million children who reside in areas less impacted by war are waiting for local authorities to confirm whether classrooms can be reopened, they added.

Sudan has 23 million children, accounting for nearly half of the country’s total population.

Even before the conflict erupted on April 15, nearly 7 million children were already out of school.

If the war continues, no child in Sudan will be able to go back to school in the coming months, leaving them exposed to immediate and long-term dangers, including displacement, recruitment by armed groups and sexual violence, the two agencies warned.

Spending on social services has been on a steep decline, with teachers in almost all states missing their salaries since the armed conflict started.

Education supplies are lacking, and facilities have not been maintained. While efforts are under way in a few regions to ensure education systems in Sudan remain functional, there are significant constraints, and the needs are quickly outpacing the resources, they said.

Unicef and Save the Children called on the Sudanese authorities to reopen schools in safe areas, while supporting alternative learning modalities in communities where schools can no longer be open due to safety and security concerns.

They called on the international community to stand in solidarity with the Sudanese children and to provide the necessary resources and support to ensure millions of Sudanese children can go back to school and ensure conflict-affected children have the opportunity to access learning and psychosocial support in safe spaces. 

According to the Sudanese Health Ministry, some 3,000 people have died and over 6,000 others injured since the violence erupted.

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Education India News

MoU inked to train Uttarakhand students in tourism, hospitality

CM Dhami further added that the state was also receiving many proposals in the field of hospitality. “There are many possibilities in this sector in the state in the coming times…reports Asian Lite News

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Samagra Shiksha Uttarakhand and Swiss Education Group, Switzerland at the Secretariat on Thursday in the presence of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami with the objective to provide better training in the field of tourism and hospitality.

State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha Banshidhar Tiwari and Executive Director of Swiss Education Group Hiraj Artinian signed the MoU to provide training in the field of tourism and hospitality to the students of classes 9th to 12th in Uttarakhand. Swiss Education Group will also assist in improving the vocational education curriculum for students in the state.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “This agreement will prove to be a milestone in the future for better training in the field of tourism and hospitality under vocational education to the children of class 9 to 12 in the state.”

He said that there is a lot of employment potential in both these sectors in Uttarakhand.

“By gaining proficiency through training in these areas, our students will get many employment opportunities. Continuous efforts are being made by the state government to promote tourism. Many works are being done to promote religious, spiritual and adventure tourism as well as eco-tourism and wellness,” CM Dhami said.

CM Dhami further added that the state was also receiving many proposals in the field of hospitality. “There are many possibilities in this sector in the state in the coming times,” he said.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed gratitude to Abhay Das Maharaj for playing an important role in this agreement with Switzerland in the field of tourism and hospitality in the state. About 4 months ago, there was a discussion between the Chief Minister and Abhay Das Maharaj to provide support to the state in these areas.

The Chief Minister said that lakhs of devotees come to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand during the Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand.

“The effort of the state government is to ensure that devotees and tourists come to the religious and tourist places of Uttarakhand in large numbers within 12 months. For this, work is being done at a rapid pace on the Manaskhand Temple Mala Mission. Under this, work has been started by identifying 16 temples in the first phase,” he added.

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Planning for a Successful Study Abroad Experience?

German student visa norms for Indians get tough

Most leading banks and financial institutions offer educational loans against certain interest rates, guarantees, and payment terms…reports Asian Lite News

Studying abroad is a transformative decision, catapulting a student’s education and career graph many notches higher. It’s no surprise that many youngsters today consider overseas education for higher studies. According to the Union Ministry of Education, 7.5 Lakh Indian students traveled overseas for higher education in 2022. Associated data sets show that Indian students formed the biggest group of immigrant students in Canada, and the second biggest group in Germany and the United Kingdom last year.

The benefits of global education range from exposure to new-age courses, participating in the latest research and innovation; and enhanced job prospects. While all this makes sense, many crucial steps need to be taken in advance to make this experience worthwhile. Study abroad counselors from MSM Unify – a leading global higher education platform offering 50,000+ courses from 1,400 institutes over 20 countries – shared the top five aspects that every student must consider when planning international education. Here they are:

Step 1 – Research about the course, country, and culture

These three C’s define the success of your study abroad experience. The checklist should begin with:
– Understanding your academic inclination
– Finding an appropriate course in your chosen field
– Selecting an appropriate top-rate institute
– Choosing the Country for Higher Study
– Understanding the host country’s geo-political situation and culture at large

Each of these steps has multiple checklists. While a student’s career may not be limited to his area of study, choosing a course in alignment with academic interest offers the necessary kickstart for jobs. When choosing the courses, consider the present job prospects and a future outlook too. For example, jobs related to automation, data, and analytics will continue to be in demand even after five years, as per industry estimates.

When selecting an institute, it’s important to directly speak to institute representatives and clear all doubts in advance. For example, at MSM Unify students can directly interact with institute representatives. It’s important to have all the details about effective fee structures, scholarship options (if applicable), yearly academic roster, department lecturers, placement support, and academy-industry connections. All such queries determine how worthwhile the study abroad experience can be.

When choosing a host country, it’s important to consider its geopolitical standing. Additionally, take the time to learn about the popular customs, traditions, and cultural norms of the country to ensure a smooth transition.

Step 2 – Understand visa and immigration requirements

Make sure you understand the visa and immigration requirements for studying in your chosen country. Familiarize yourself with the application process, required documents, and any restrictions or limitations that may apply. Seek guidance from our experts. Applying for a visa can be challenging, but well-established consultants such as MSM Unify use their wide network within partner countries to simplify the process for you! Following are the generic documents required for a student visa, more documents can be required as per host country specifications:
– Passport with at least two blank pages and an expiry date beyond 180 days
– A formal admission letter from the university
– A printout of your online application
– Evidence of language certification (if needed)
– Evidence of financial means
– Passport size photographs
– Previous education record
– Vaccination results (if required, it varies by the country)


Step 3 – Plan Your finances in advance – Education loans, scholarships, and more to explore

Studying abroad is an expensive affair, hence resistance from many students. When considering to study abroad, start with making a budget. Consider all expenses such as tuition fees, accommodation charges, living expenses, travel costs, medical insurance, insurance for your devices (laptop/mobile phone, photography equipment), and any additional expenses that may arise.

Most leading banks and financial institutions offer educational loans against certain interest rates, guarantees, and payment terms. Again, well-established study abroad consultants such as MSM Unify provide multiple options to explore financial options. The firm offers multiple financing options from leading providers such as ICICI iSMART education loans, MPower Financing, and other international partners to make it easy for students to choose from the most competitive offerings.
If you plan on applying for an educational loan, you should begin the student visa application process 6 months before the start of your first semester. So, you would have enough time to manage your finances and education loans.

Step 4 – Find accommodation options

Research the various accommodation options available in your host country. Consider factors such as cost of accommodation, proximity to your educational institution, safety, and amenities provided. The usual options include university dormitories, shared apartments, homestays, or private flats, depending on your preferences and budget. If you decide to live in an apartment, you will also need to pay for tenant’s insurance as well as additional utility costs like power, internet, and water use. Confused about finding accommodation? MSM Unify’s partners such as University Living, Housemates Unilodgers, Casita, Gobritanya, and others offer a variety of options to choose from.

Step 5 – Transit services

Make sure to reserve your airline tickets in advance. To track price changes and buy at the cheapest prices, consider looking at the alternatives with plenty of time to spare. Also, familiarize yourself with the transit services available in the host country. Research public transportation options such as buses, trains, and subways, their popular routes, schedules, and fares. Additionally, look into student discounts or passes that may be available to help you save money on transportation costs.

Remember, studying abroad offers multi-dimensional experiences. The only way to make this worthwhile is by being prepared in advance. Speak to other students who also plan to study abroad or others who have had this experience helps in adding more perspectives.

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