A study report released by the US Embassy in Mumbai on Monday has revealed that the number of Indian students enrolling in US colleges and universities in 2014-15 has gone up to 29 per cent bettering China’s record.
Engineering and computer studies have been the choice of Indian students as nearly 69 per cent enrolments has been in these two vocations. The details are part of the 2015 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange that shows an increase by 29 per cent to 1,32,888 students in higher education.
According to the report, while China remains the top country sending international students to the U.S, increasing by 11 per cent to 3,04,040 students, India’s growth outpaced China’s this year, with students from India increasing by 29.4 percent to a record high of 1,32,888. The increase shows that the increase that began last year is gaining momentum, after a three-year trend of declining numbers of Indian students on US campuses.
In 2014/15, China and India together accounted for 67 per cent of the total increase in international students, and they now constitute nearly 45 per cent of the total number of international students in U.S. higher education, with 31 per cent coming from China and 14 per cent coming from India.
“I am excited to see the record number of Indian students contributing to life and studies on American campuses. I am also excited about everything the US Embassy is doing to encourage Indian and American students to study abroad, and to facilitate institutional partnerships between US and Indian institutions, such as through the Indo-US 21st Century Knowledge Initiative,” said U.S. Ambassador Richard Verma.
Evan Ryans, assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs at U.S. department of state, also pointed out that India’s position has improved and it is the 12th preferred destination for studies abroad by American students
The report further said that approximately 80 per cent of all Indian students in the United States are in the fields of engineering, math/computer science, and business.
Thirty per cent of all Indian students in the US are in an Optional Practical Training Program which enables international students to work in paid positions for 12 months after completion of their degree program, and for an additional 17 months if in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields.
