(Image source from: UK Student Visa Issue Raised By PM Modi With Cameron})
Concern was expressed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his British counterpart David Cameron over the decline in the number of students from India moving to study in the UK due to the problems or issues they encounter while applying for visas.
Ministry of external affairs spokesperson said, "The Prime Minister raised the issue [of student visas] very strongly. The Prime Minister said that Indian student numbers in the UK has fallen by 50 per cent in the last three years,"
"He urged that Indian students are among the best and the brightest in the world and it would be a win-win partnership for both sides. Indians needing a quality education and the UK benefiting from the expertise that Indian students bring," the spokesperson said.
"The Prime Minister said we are right now in a situation where countries are actually wooing Indian students because India has the biggest education market today. There's a burgeoning middle class, there is an aspirational upper class that wants to educate its kids abroad and it's an opportunity to tap into what has become a big economic market."
Referring to the response from Cameron on the issue, the spokesperson said: "There was a lot of understanding and appreciation. This is a matter for continued discussion. I don't think we can close the chapter on this."
As per the Higher Education Funding Council for England report, the deep steep in the fall of students moving to the UK from India is observed from the figures. The number fell from 18,535 in 2010-11 to 10,235 in 2012-13.
Earlier, the universities have warned about the negative impact from the drive of Conservatives to reduce net immigration. They said that the recruitment of international students is being hammered and called for the removal of students from net migration.
The major factor that is putting Indian students off from choosing UK, is the removal of post-study work visa route that enabled the students to work for a period of two years after completing the course. Indian students are selecting destinations like the US and Australia.
-Sumana
