Every year, we celebrate our country's Independence Day with flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programmes.We sing our national anthem with great pride.Just as Indian students travel overseas for higher studies, international students are coming to India for a range of courses. Technology, culture, English skills and more are attracting them to India.Well, this year, the students at the South Asian University in Delhi, launched by SAARC in 2010, observed not one, but two Independence Day celebrations.On August 14, 11 pm, a two-hour event was held where the students of Pakistan first presented cultural programmes and sang the Pakistani national anthem in the presence of the entire university comprising students of the eight SAARC nations -- Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh and recent entrant Afghanistan.At midnight, the function was taken over by Indian students. The university plans to make this an annual event.
On a similar note, October 1, 2012 marked a special day for Nigerian students at Manipal University's College of Allied Health Sciences (MCOAHS) and Manav Rachna International University (MRIU).Both institutes observed Nigeria's 52nd year of independence. "The national anthem of Nigeria was recited and a party was hosted.The Nigerian students appreciated the gesture, and after that there was significant warmth in the behaviour of Nigerian students towards the Indian students, and teachers in particular," shares Dr Anil Sarin, Professor & Dean, Faculty of International Programmes, MRIU.VIT University also celebrated the Chinese New Year for the benefit of Chinese students on campus, one of the largest contingents of international students at VIT.
These celebrations indicate a growing trend of international students coming to India for higher studies. It began in the 1950s with schemes like the ICCR scholarships, which offered 20-30 international students an opportunity to pursue higher studies at public universities at Pune, Delhi and Mysore.This number has now risen to around 3,000. Private universities like Symbiosis and Manipal, have also had international students on their campuses for many years. And more private institutions are following this trend.The Acharya Institute in Bangalore have around 700+ students from 35 countries.They come for all levels, right from Pre-University to Master's but mostly Bachelor level programmes. Computer applications, Business Administration,business management, pharmacy and engineering are the most popular streams," shares Dr C Vijayakumar, Director, Human Resource & International Affiliations, Acharya Institutes.
