'India, China providing high-quality education to youths'

One of the keys to Asia's economic success to date and its prospects for further progress is the high quality of education that exists -- in terms of both the systems in place and strong emphasis that different Asian cultures place on giving their children the best education possible, said the report released by the Hong Kong-based Political & Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd (PERC).

The report entitled "Asians Enrolled in US Universities" also raised a question as to which country would benefit the most from this talent.

It observed that China and India are training millions of their best and brightest in such professions as engineering and business management and these countries should have the depth of the talent to lift their economies forward.

Citing Asian student intake by US universities, it said India ranked third biggest source of international students with 15,192 undergraduates, 68,290 graduates and 1,758 non-degree course attendees enrolled in 2009-10.

China topped the list during the same year with 39,921 undergraduates, 66,453 graduates and 10,251 non-degree course attendees, followed by South Korea with 36,234 undergraduates, 23,386 graduates and 6,671 non-degree course students, said the PERC report, quoting data from the Institute of International Education.

Considering various options, including family and peer support, the report pointed out that "Asia is grooming more high-quality human capital than any other region in the world, and countries that can make the best use of this capital could have a strong competitive advantage over other countries in the years ahead."

While the Asians were looking to the West, and particularly to the US, for advanced education, the host countries need to make these students feel welcomed, it said. The report also pointed out that difficulties for visas and employment opportunities in these countries were increasing, especially in the US, and the anti-immigrant movements were making the Asians uncomfortable.

It noted the US and European universities' "export" of technology by setting up campuses in Asia, namely Singapore and China, where primary and secondary education was already above the US and European standards.

Their western universities' campus relocation to these countries would allow the built up of education systems to match or exceed the highest western standards in education, it said.