2021- The Building Block Of International Higher Education In 2022

The face of the global higher education sector has changed drastically with students from emerging markets increasingly opting to pursue an education overseas. However, with the pandemic disrupting physical mobility, new factors are shaping the world of international education. Enrolments from over 5 lakh students in foreign universities made India, the fastest-growing source market, with student enrollments predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.5 per cent (2019-2030). Key factors contributing to this impressive growth, include demographic trends, rising affordability and household incomes, improved accessibility of international education, premium salaries commanded by foreign graduates, and a greater desire to settle abroad.

While the US remains the top receiving country for international students, the numbers declined over the last several years due, in part, to more restrictive immigration policies, strained international relations and travel bans. Although the current administration is putting out the welcome mat for international students, the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic has made it challenging to turn the tide.

Role of technology in developing the education sector

The display of a higher level of organisational agility from institutions has aided in making great strides in supporting their instructors and students to provide an engaging learning environment while overcoming various challenges.  

The year 2021 observed a great momentum in online and hybrid programmes. While many institutions are now looking and preparing for transitioning back to in-person classes, the accessibility of online and hybrid courses will continue to dominate conversations around programme development and recruitment over the next decade. These online and hybrid courses offer an opportunity to millions of students and teachers to influence a wider audience without necessitating significant additional physical infrastructure. 

As faculties get better at teaching in an online environment, they are also learning more about how many technologies, software tools, and how other resources can improve the quality of the online teaching/ learning experience. The most important consequence of the gush in online learning is an enhancement in the level of access to quality education across nations. If higher education fully embraces the potential of the medium, we have the potential to significantly expand the number of people with academic credentials.  Institutions also now have the ability to involve faculty who may not otherwise be able to teach at a particular university. The internet has made the classes truly global in nature– both for faculty and students.  

Changes made to redefine the education sector’s goals and objectives 

The education institutions have always known that they have a responsibility to make online experiences akin to the experience students have in offline courses.  As the pandemic continued in 2021, the focus lied on the sole objective of offering the best quality teaching and learning environment while opening doors for many students to educate themselves.  Faculty learnt to use videos, discussion boards, online readings, and activities that can be completed remotely.  

Academic institutions continued to emphasize diversity and inclusion in their mission and strategic planning, as well as to re-examine the ways they can be more transparent with their audiences. Institutions will need to sustain and increase their efforts to aim for more diverse faculty and staff in order to reach the levels of representation that mirror their student body.

It is interesting to know that in India, the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education was 27.1 per cent in FY21. India has also become the second-largest market for E-learning after the US, as per the KPMG report. The most notable change was the introduction of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This has set the stage to take India to the global stage, it long deserved. This initiative to integrate the Indian higher education system with international education is highly commendable. NEP will be a landmark transformative initiative to improve the quality of higher education in India, but also its reach and make it globally competitive. 

Outlook for 2022

Foreign universities are prioritizing attaining international students back on campus premises to the extent acceptable in the face of travel restrictions and other impediments to travel. Where necessary, universities are looking to accommodate students from countries who may not be able to return as easily. While there will certainly be many faculties who choose to return to the conventional classroom settings, but their teaching will indisputably be shaped by their online teaching experience.  

The US will continue to be the top preferred destination for overseas education because of a higher education system that features outstanding student support, vast and advanced academic programmes offering a global perspective, cultural diversity and providing better career opportunities and growth prospects. 

Indian students fly to different higher education hubs aspiring world-class practical application and experience which provides an advantage to them in the global economy. The rising number of Indian students studying in international universities also translates into building life-long relationships to maintain and strengthen international partnerships and work collectively towards resolving various current and future global challenges.

Prateek Gujral

Guest Author The author is Principal Advisor (South Asia), Augustana University, South Dakota, US Formerly, Principal Advisor (South Asia) Truman State University. Regional Advisor (South Asia) at Missouri State University