Here, most of the foreign students are from Mongolia, Maldives, Bangla Desh, Nepal and South Africa. Many come also from the neighbouring Sri Lanka, and the education of many of these is funded by the Indian Council of Cultural Relation (ICCR) under its scheme of cultural exchange.
They are admitted to Bangalore’s various colleges for professional and semi-professional courses. Commerce and Economics are their preferred subjects but the hottest are the MBA and the MCA in which the seats are few and far between. Those who fail to make it to more prestigious institutions join the less prestigious ones, though the most preferred destinations are the Institutes of Information Technology.
Apart from scholarship holders, many come to Bangalore on their own. They study Computer Science and Business Management in the colleges of the Bangalore University. They are mostly from Malaysia, Iran and Indonesia, and from well-to-do backgrounds. After completing their education they go back to their respective homelands to enhance their family business.
As this is being written, around 4000 foreign students are already studying in the city’s various institutions. The ICCR keeps a trac, of the influx but helps in the registration of only those who belong to its exchange schemes. The rest are left to fend for themselves. But owing to government’s strict regulations hundreds have to go back. Hence only 3 to 400 students can be admitted in one academic year.
But, as more and more of foreign universities are now trying to strike roots in Bangalore, and with FDI in higher education, this seems to be a little unjust. According to experts, Bangalore is soon going to be a better educational centre than Pune or Delhi and, hence, there is need for the government to liberalise its admission policies to accommodate more foreign students.
However, the official point of view does not subscribe to the idea. Already the government is faced with problems of brawls by some foreign students. They violate the provisions of the visa and linger on in the city even after completing their education. Some are absorbed by local and foreign companies. Quietly they get the visas changed into work permits. The subjects with greater market value are most sought after. From this angle, an IT, BT or MBA degree or diploma is supposed to be a boon. Consequently even the local institutions have started teaching these and running their own placement cells.
Yet, most of the foreign students are not happy. The cost of living in the city is rising. As many live in shared rooms their standard of living is falling. The self -financing educational system has also become a discouraging factor. Water, power and transport costs have gone up. But as Bangalore has the highest number of vocational institutions in India “Our problems are more than solved”, says one from Sri Lanka.
The state government is not very helpful, according to many. Still, most of us have a better life here. The people are non-interfering, the younger generation is friendly and thoughtful. Only, we have to work hard to make a mark in the city’s competitive culture. Hence, if the government asks us to go back to our countries we feel bad.
Hundreds of these students are now in lucrative jobs as ‘trainees’ and the companies are encouraging it. Those who are not on government scholarships are less liable for legal action. Back home they have little opportunity to earn their livelihood. But those who violate the visa rules must not do it with impunity.