Alarming Rise in Academic Migration
India is experiencing a significant increase in academic migration, often termed as brain drain, with a large number of students leaving the country annually for global education and better career opportunities. The migration numbers have grown from 13.2 lakh students in 2023 to 13.8 lakh in 2025.
Destinations and Financial Implications
- The U.S. and Canada are the most popular destinations, attracting nearly 40% of Indian students.
- Germany is becoming a preferred choice due to affordable education, especially in engineering and nursing.
- Most migrating students belong to middle-class families and finance their education abroad through heavy bank loans ranging from ₹30 lakh to ₹50 lakh.
Consequences of Academic Migration
Many students end up in lower-tier institutions, face underemployment, and return to India with debt and limited career prospects. This trend also leads to vacant seats and declining enrolment in Indian universities, affecting the quality of education, especially in science and technology disciplines.
Internationalization of Higher Education
Internationalizing higher education in India is essential to enhance academic quality and reduce migration. According to the American Council on Education (ACE), internationalization should be a strategic and coordinated framework integrating various institutional elements.
Key Lenses and Focus Areas
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Institutions should promote racial, economic, and social justice.
- Agility and Transformation: Institutions should adapt to global, technological, and societal changes.
- Data-informed Decision-making: Internationalization efforts should be based on systematic evaluation and measurable outcomes.
Six Focus Areas for Effective Internationalization
- Institutional Strategic Planning: Integrate internationalization into the institution's strategic framework.
- Leadership and Governance: Involve senior leadership in supporting internationalization.
- Curriculum and Co-curriculum: Offer globally relevant education and learning opportunities.
- Faculty and Student Mobility: Promote exchange programs for faculty and students.
- Partnerships and Networks: Collaborate internally and externally for innovation and knowledge creation.
Global-ready Graduates and Institutional Benefits
Effective internationalization aims to produce graduates equipped with international perspectives and skills. Benefits include enhanced reputation, increased research output, and stronger academia-industry linkages.
Transnational Education and Partnerships
- Establishing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), student exchange agreements, and strategic partnerships.
- Encouraging transnational education through twinning, joint degree, and dual degree programs.
Academia-Industry Linkages
Strong linkages can be fostered by establishing science and health parks affiliated with universities. Examples include the Lindholmen Science Park in Sweden. This approach integrates academia with research and industry, fostering innovation and reducing migration.
Sabu Joseph, Director of the Centre for Global Academics at the University of Kerala, emphasizes the need for transformative changes in India’s higher education system to address academic migration effectively.
