US educationists allay fears over job prospects
G.V.R. SUBBA RAO
PHOTO: RAJU. V.
Clearing the air: Dirk Messelaar, dean of University of Massachusetts-Boston, Massachusetts (USA), addressing students in Vijayawada. -
The victory of Barack Obama and the continuing instances of killing of Indian students on university campuses seem to bother Indians who are aspiring for a career and education in the US, though in different ways.
Students and parents are a worried lot in the wake of the killing of Arpana, a young girl from Andhra Pradesh who was pursuing an MS degree, in her apartment in Seattle. It was the third incident in the last six months of a girl from Andhra Pradesh being found dead under suspicious circumstances in a foreign land.
On the other hand, with Mr. Obama getting elected as the President, every Indian is wondering if his victory will adversely affect their job prospects and the outsourcing industry in India in general.
But some of the educationists from the US who visited Vijayawada recently allay these fears. On the killings, they argue that “no country is totally safe”. On the jobs front, they assure that Mr. Obama’s elevation to the Presidency will not take away any joy from the Indians.
Obama factor
These fears and assurances figured at a seminar organised by the city-based Ace Solutions on ‘Higher education opportunities for students’, where representatives of eight US universities spoke and conducted some on the spot assessment. Representatives of universities like the University of Massachusetts-Boston, Massachusetts and Schiller International University, Florida spoke at length on educational opportunities in the US.
On the sidelines of the seminar, they expressed the view that Mr. Obama, as President, would work to develop an appropriate foreign policy for the US’ changing position in the world. Mr. Obama is very knowledgeable and understands the dynamics of globalisation. His priority would be to create more jobs in the US, but not to regulate the outsourcing industry, they say.
Pointing to Mr. Obama’s assertion that globalisation is irreversible and it is futile to try to turn back the clock, they opine that there is more anxiety than reality.
‘More creative’
“There are some areas like science and technology and research and development (R&D), where it is inevitable to recruit Indians,” says Dirk Messelaar, Dean of the University of Massachusetts. He feels that the Indians and the Chinese are more “creative, skilful, intelligent and possess good understanding capacities compared to any other nationals.” Even if an Indian student who pursued education in the US fails to find a job there, he will certainly find one in any other country where US-based multi national companies have set up their offices, they say.
“He (Mr. Obama) announced only tax relief for the companies that will create job opportunities in America. But, he is not against the outsourcing or jobs held by Indians,” says Kamala Dontamsetti, Associate Director of Admissions and Recruitment, Schiller International University.
On recent killings of Indian students, she explains: “Killings take place here and there. There is a panic, as the media tries to highlight the killing of citizens of their country prominently.” The students are in a state of “false security”. One should take precautions while staying abroad just as they take precautions in their own country. In fact, no country is safe, she contends.
Ms. Dontamsetti feels that there is a vast change in the mindset of parents during the last 15 years.
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