To increase the intake of students from developing and underdeveloped countries in higher education, the government is offering more than just a degree.
NEW DELHI: ‘Learn English and study in India’. With a marketing trick as attractive as this, India is fast becoming home to hundreds of foreign students rushing here for degree courses in engineering, biotechnology, information technology and agriculture.
To increase the intake of students from developing and underdeveloped countries in higher education, the government is offering more than just a degree.
It has decided to break the language barrier and foreign students, children of non-resident Indians and people of Indian origin with poor English are now been a given six-month course prior to joining degree courses in specialised subjects.
“Earlier, doors of education in India were open only to those who knew English, but now this barrier has been broken and students are given lessons in English first,” said an official from Ed.CIL, the only public sector enterprise under the ministry of human resource development.
Ed.CIL is responsible for branding Indian education in the global market. It offers consultancy and technical services in education and human resource development globally.
However, since competition is stiffer compared to the European and American education markets, India is carefully and strategically targeting the developing, underdeveloped, sub-Saharan and South Asian countries.
“With the repositioning, English has of late become the most selling part of the Indian education system. The trend is fast catching on and the intake is increasing as compared to countries where English is not the first language,” the official added.
The scheme was launched as a pilot project last year when a first batch of 37 students from Libya was given lessons in English for six months.
However, considering the overwhelming response and the growing demand, this English teaching course has been launched as a package this year.
As of now there are about 87 students from Saudi Arabia, 31 from Libya and a few Chinese students taking lessons in Bangalore and Delhi, before joining there respective courses.
While the number of international students is around 1,000, last year about 614 students were placed in various courses through Ed.CIL alone and the PSU is hopeful of a 10-15% increase by next year.
There is a demand for courses in architecture, IT, agriculture and engineering among foreign students. In engineering, electronic and communication engineering, computer science, electrical, mechanical, chemical engineering are popular courses.
The engineering students are placed in various national institutes of technology, while a degree in agriculture is given at Delhi’s Pusa Institute and Punjab Agriculture University.
Though the fees for international students are almost double than for Indians, education here is still cheaper compared to the developed nations.
“Indian education has for long been identified with quality and value for money. With the added advantage of moderate cost of living, India is an attractive choice for international students seeking educational opportunities outside their geographic boundaries,” said an official.
p_vineeta@dnaindia.net
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