It’s not a one-way traffic any more, though Indian students constitute the largest group of foreign scholars in U.S., more and more Americans are also heading to India to pursue higher studies.
According to figures released on Monday, 3,150 Americans went to India to study in 2007-08, which is a jump of nearly 20 per cent from the previous year and coincides with the growth of Indian economy and its emergence as a regional and global player.
Overall, India is ranked 17th in the list of the Open Doors 2009 topped by Britain with 33,333 students, Italy (30,670); Spain (25,212); France (17,336) and China (13,165).
American nationals heading towards India is in tune with the general trend witnessed in the U.S. in the last few years; wherein the number of such students has been on the increase.
Notable increases among leading destinations were in the numbers students going to China, Ireland, Austria and India.
Allan E Goodman, president and CEO of the Institute of International Education, said, “More students are eager to study in newly popular study destinations abroad such as China, India, and the Middle East [West Asia].”
The language and cultural skills they acquire along with their academic experience will have a profound effect on their lives and careers.
Open Doors is published annually by the Institute of International Education with funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.