However, the US remains a “top destination” for international students, and Indian students still constitute the second largest group of international students in the US after China, according to the 2021 Open Doors Report.
Senior officials at the US Embassy in New Delhi shared some details from the report at a news conference held at Fulbright House here on Monday, and also told reporters that “more than 62,000 student visas were issued this summer alone, with no even more than last year”. Student visa figures show that the “slowdown” in the number of Indians studying in the US was a “Covid blip”, and that “the overall trend has been generally positive”, said Anthony Miranda, cultural and educational affairs consultant. US Embassy.
He talked about the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education and student mobility, and its impact on the US with the decline in the number of international students studying in the US.
The number of Indians studying in the US decreased by about 13 per cent in 2020-21 as compared to the previous academic year, while the number of international students in the US overall decreased by about 15 per cent, with reference to the same period. percent, Miranda said, citing the report.
He said that despite the impact of the pandemic, citing the report, “the US remains a top destination for international students, welcoming more than 914,000 international students from more than 200 locations.”
Indian students comprise about 20 per cent of this number, with 1,67,582 students in the 2020-2021 academic year, according to the 2021 Open Doors Report, the US embassy said in a statement.
The annual report is published by the Institute for International Education (IIE) in partnership with the US State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. This is a comprehensive information resource on international students and scholars in the US and on US students abroad.
“I am pleased to announce that the report confirms that the United States remains a top destination for international students pursuing higher education abroad,” Miranda said.
Donald Heflin, the consular minister at the embassy, said the pandemic and the ensuing lockdown posed great challenges, and raised safety concerns in the minds of parents whose children were about to go to the US for higher education, but by both sides. Attempts were made. (USA and India) to ensure a safe and comfortable transition for students.
“Despite the global pandemic, Indian students were able to apply for visas and travel to the United States. We issued more than 62,000 student visas this summer alone, more than in any previous year. This shows that the US remains the preferred destination for Indian students looking to study abroad. We expect to issue many more visas in the coming year.”
Heflin also told reporters that more slots have been earmarked for the issuance of visas to students planning to travel to the US for the spring semester.
The US embassy said in its statement that “the United States continues to be open and welcoming to international students during the global COVID-19 pandemic”.
The first COVID-19 case globally was reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. And later in Europe, and America and other countries. In India, the first case was reported in January 2020, and as cases increased, a nationwide lockdown was imposed by the government in late March of that year.
International flight services were suspended as part of the government’s measures to contain the spread of the pandemic.
Scheduled international passenger services in India have been suspended since March 23 last year due to the pandemic. But since July 2020, special international flights are operating under a bilateral “air bubble” arrangement with around 28 countries including the US.
“Last year, the US government and US higher education institutions implemented measures to safely welcome international students in person, online and through hybrid learning methods, guaranteeing that Giving that opportunities and resources for international students remain strong”.
Miranda continued, “International student mobility is central to American diplomacy, innovation, economic prosperity, and national security. We value Indian students as they help sustain and develop international partnerships and meet global challenges of current and future.” Americans build life-long relationships with peers to find solutions collectively.”
The event was organized at the United States-India Education Foundation (USIEF).
USIEF promotes mutual understanding between citizens of India and the United States through the educational exchange of outstanding scholars, professionals and students. Since its inception, USIEF has awarded approximately 20,000 Fulbright, Fulbright-Nehru and other prestigious grants and scholarships in nearly every academic discipline, according to its website.
,