From the hybrid study model to the shift in demand for destinations, here are five major themes of the post-Covid-19 study abroad experience.
International education is a big step, and it’s time for us to evolve and keep up with the changing educational landscape. Studying abroad holds a lot of promise in terms of opportunities, experiences, and so on. However, the admissions process is fraught with complications. What scholarships are available to international students? What qualities do colleges seek? What distinguishes an application? Is going abroad only available to a select few?
Due to the pandemic, the dreams of lakhs of Indian students planning to study abroad in the 2019-2020 academic year have come crashing down. The situation improved slightly in 2021, but due to the heavy load on international embassies, very few people received visas to travel abroad.
The Present Scenario
This year, studying abroad flourished once more, with many students obtaining visas and travelling to their dream country. Given what is happening in China, there is still a lingering shadow of COVID-19 as we forecast trends for 2023. There is also the impact of the European war, which has caused inflation in all popular study abroad destinations. Another macroeconomic factor influencing study abroad in 2023 is the looming recession in most developed economies, with major technology companies laying off thousands of workers.
13 lakh Indian Students To study Abroad by 2022
There is no doubt about the growing demand for studying abroad, which was initially attributed to the pandemic’s pent-up demand for two years but is now more due to rising aspirations and affordability. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), over 13 lakh Indian students will be studying abroad by 2022, with the majority (4.65 lakh) pursuing higher education in the United States.
Given that students are once again looking for opportunities to study abroad, here is how we can forecast the coming year:
Hybrid Study Model
Several studies have shown that students are still eager to embrace the benefits of hybrid learning. Despite the fact that the pandemic was their first exposure to hybrid learning, they now see it as the future of education.
A well-balanced mix of online and on-campus learning for degree courses abroad has not only reduced costs, but has also made higher education abroad more equitable, sustainable, and democratic.
The model has also paved the way for international university collaborations, allowing for greater acceptance of learning models across the countries involved. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between India and the United Kingdomennis player and the youngest research scholar is the most visible example.
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