Indian students will continue to choose US for study abroad

Karl Adam, deputy cultural affairs officer, says Indian students will have no dearth of opportunities to study and work in USA
The United States has been a hub of higher education drawing thousands of Indian students every year. The shortterm trends in students pursuing higher education in the US continue to fluctuate subject to various political and economic scenarios, however, long term trends showcase that the number of Indian students coming to the US has doubled in the past decade, says Karl Adam, deputy cultural affairs officer, Embassy of the United States.
He adds that Indians are the second largest and one of the most prosperous immigrant communities in the US.Being skilled and motivated, they go on to succeed further.

“There is a reason why the world talks about American education. It is one of the most flexible and innovative education systems that allows students to pursue what they want by offering a range of specialised and interdisciplinary programmes. With around 4000 institutes of higher education, the US provides several niche departments,” says Adam.
He adds that university rankings have a huge influence when international students choose universities, and due to constant innovation and research, the institutes in America continue to hold top spots.
“We have a lot to offer other than the Ivy League colleges, particularly in STEM related programmes which are most favoured by Indian students. We lead in research and innovation. When a student comes to study in the US, he is also exposed to a great industry network, internships and practical knowledge through Optional Practical Training (OPT) which allows eligible students to receive up to 12 months of employment authorisation before completing their academic studies,” says Adam.
“There has not been a change in our OPT or H1B visa programme, however there are changes in how it is being implemented and enforced but students who want to study in the United States can freely apply and this has not changed. We hope that students see the possibility that they can still study and work in the US. We value diversity in our campuses as it brings multiplicity of opinions and approaches towards various issues, which is the heart of any good education system,” he adds.
The job market keeps evolving and the US education evolves with it, thus providing programmes and skilling students according to the existing demands.
Any Indian student who wants to study in the US can apply freely and there are several scholarships and financial assistance options can be explored.
“We always advise aspirants to seek guidance and counselling from Education USA, which is the US government programme. These advisors are trained by the US and provide the best guidance to students in terms of navigating through various programme choices to find the best fit and finance support,” said Adam.