| |9 June 2021HIGHERReviewIn the era of globalization, education in a good university abroad could provide an invaluable impetus to all the aspiring students who aim to make a differencenation is identifying its core strength and consolidating its position in this perpetual global supply-chain of prod-uct and service delivery, education in a good university abroad could provide an invaluable impetus to all the as-piring students who aim to make a difference. Currently the focus on skilling has taken the center-stage in employability context. There has been a push by the Government as well to improvise the skills training of the workforce and students who can have better pros-pects for employability. Infact the Universities have been introducing unconventional courses with the purpose of providing skills that are in demand and can prepare stu-dents for a better future. Although there is no denying that there does exist a gap between the present state and the desired goals interms of having skilled workforce.Therefore, the Universities must also look at revamp-ing curriculum, opting for research based training/learning, encouraging vocational training and design In-novative Pedagogical Tools that can link education to em-ployment.Growing demand for more present-day courses like Data Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, Actuarial Sciences, Experiential Management and much more, is another rea-son why more and more students are aspiring to experi-ence education in countries more famous for these cours-es. For instance, there maybe arts students in India who would be interested in pursuing a Bachelor's in Patisserie Technology in Paris. While some other students may be amazed by the logistics & supply-chain of modern-day e-commerce and delivery companies and would be keen to pursue studying supply-chain in Singapore/Malaysia. This shows that it is not just the industry that is constantly adapting, but also the mind-sets of the students and par-ents, who are today more adventurous and bold than the the previous generations. There is also a growing curiosity for transfer pro-grams, where students can experience education in 2 dif-ferent countries. Today, in India, transfer programs are available in Engineering, Medicine, Business and other courses.The Covid-19 crisis is adversely impacting thousands of students who have made plans of studying abroad in the academic year 2019-20. It is important for these stu-dents to have a plan-B, an alternative, to ensure that they minimize the damage that is being inflicted upon them. Some students have deferred their admission to the next intake which begins usually in January/February next year. Also, there are students who are looking at alterna-tives like transfer programs where they can study in India for now, and then eventually go abroad and complete their degree there. Overall, it is important for students to not compromise on their aspirations and build their alterna-tives accordingly. This crisis shall over sooneror later but it is the aspirations that are long-term and these aspira-tions help the students shape their careers and lives going forward. With the outbreak of Corona around the world, the hope and dream of many aspiring students have been halted and impacted considerably. Last year, over 7.5 lakh Indian students opted to study at universities abroad with US, Canada, Australia remaining the top aspirational destinations followed by UK and Germany. For the ac-ademic year starting August-September, students should have ideally started Visa applications that have come to a grinding halt at present. It is only fair to say that the institutes and universities globally are also fighting the same battle and they are ex-tending their support to co-operate with the students. We have seen online video classes and assessments take the front-seat. Most of the universities have also eased up their processes of deferment and they are also in constant touch with the applicants providing them the much-need-ed reassurance during these times.
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