CHENNAI : Over 1,000 students queued up in a span of eight hours at Hotel Taj Coromandel when IDP Education Australia called students for interviews and interaction with representatives from over 40 universities.

In the last four years, there has been a steady annual growth of 30-35 per cent in the number of students leaving India for Australia, for higher education.

"In 94-95, there were less than 300 Indians studying in Australian universities. Today, there are over 27,000," says Henry A. S. Ledlie, Director (India), IDP Education Australia.

Survey

According to the findings of a recent survey undertaken by Australia on Global Student mobility 2025, over 8,00,000 Indians will seek education internationally, compared to 1,25,000 today.

"It says that out of these 8,00,000 Indians, 10 per cent will go to Australia. This report is ringing alarm bells for the world. Will the world be able to take 8,00,000 Indian students," he asks.

Why the exodus?

"Because we have very few world class institutions in India and how many people get into the IITs and IIMs? If you want to study in St. Stephen's College, Delhi, you need a cut off of 95 per cent in Class 12 results. So what happens if you got 90? Or 85? Where will you go?" he asks.

Lack of opportunity here

Most Indian students choose International education when they do not get through the institute of first choice. "India must start building capacity and come up with regulations to ensure transparency in permitting institutions of class to come in. Owing to lack of opportunity here, students take the opportunity to leave the country for better education.

Why does St. Stephen's take only 50 students in a course and not 500? Why not St. Stephen's open branches in different cities? Why can't we have more IIMs and IITs? Why such high cut offs?

Why should helpless kids end their lives because they do not score enough to get into the institute of their choice? The Government should shake itself out of the slumber and give people the opportunity to choose," explains the director.

"Australian Universities make money. They are not ashamed to tell the world that they make profit in education. But the good thing is that they reinvest and build their capacity. They are aggressive in marketing and are not ashamed of it. And, that's because they know that their quality of education will justify the marketing," says Mr. Henry Ledlie.

One of the important factors that has led to students going abroad is that Indians are earning big money, he adds, explaining: "The Indian Government is extremely liberal in giving out bank loans. And education in Australia is 40 to 60 per cent cheaper than America and U.K," he adds.

Students take the flight out because of the attractive employment options post education.

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