After US,Australia biggest education hub for Indians

The numbers are significant as Australia has emerged as a major contender to the USA which has been drawing the maximum Indian students for years now. However,China is the biggest contributor,sending in the highest number of students per year.

According to sources,in recent years the number of Chinese students in Australia has risen by 20 per cent while the number of Indian students has grown by 55 per cent.

Since there is a similar 10+2+3 education structures in both the countries,Indian students find it easier to move to Australia and pursue their studies. The lure of a Permanent Residency is a bigger reason for many.

The Australian High Commission in India claims on its website that it is the second most popular international education destination for Indian students,only behind the United States,and its popularity is continuing to grow.

“In August 2008,around 474,389 international students were enrolled in Australian institutions from some 217 countries. Of these,over 80,000 were Indian students… India is now the second top-source country for Australia’s international education industry,” the High Commission states.

Australia’s reputation as a multi-cultural nation is another reason for the it’s growing popularity. With the growing numbers,however,a number of problems also emerging that can work against the country.

“While we haven’t really received complaints about racist behaviour from Indian students in Australia,the ministry did receive some complaints about the unsatisfactory quality of education being imparted in some institutes/ universities there. The matter was even taken up at a meeting between the HRD Ministry officials and their Australian counterparts last year with the latter assuring these complaints would be looked into,” said a senior HRD Ministry official.