Higher education abroad: Opening up boundaries

Many young high school students living in Bangladesh dream of pursuing their higher studies abroad, with the goal of achieving the best quality education leading towards a fulfilling career. According to UNESCO’s data, approximately 70,000 to 90,000 students leave the country for higher studies, every year. According to Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) sources, about 40 per cent to 50 per cent of each batch move abroad. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a department of the government of Canada has also found that between 2016 and 2019, Canada witnessed a 270 per cent increase in applications from Bangladeshi students, stemming from a 300 per cent rise in university-level applications. Moreover, from issuing 800 study permits in 2016, Canada has moved to issue 3165 permits in 2019. 

All of the data above substantiates the gradually increasing demand among students to study abroad. But what exactly are the reasons behind it?

Higher education abroad, following the Global Curriculum, opens up a number of opportunities for students. Among the high school students in Bangladesh, many have recognized the almost limitless opportunities foreign education could offer them. Effective higher education shapes students towards successful career prospects while also making an impact on the well-being of the economy. It equips students with the necessary skills to tackle anything that the future holds, which is why students prefer to make a safer choice by opting to study abroad. According to a media report, 82 per cent of the respondents who expressed the desire to move abroad planned to do so by opting for foreign higher education.

Studying abroad not only leads to professional or academic excellence, but also helps students to achieve global competence. In a world continuously moving toward globalisation, global curricula abroad help students in gaining all that is necessary to make a career anywhere in the world. Moreover, students get exposed to peers and teachers of different cultures, getting to experience an array of cultures and customs. Students can travel across borders and cities, discover new places and learn a great deal through experience. All of these experiences come together to build an open mind while accumulating practical skills necessary to excel in life.

Due to major travel and movement restrictions stemming from the pandemic, moving overseas for studies was at a pause. However, applications did not stop, as classes continued virtually. Right now, as the movement restrictions have eased up a bit, more students are flying abroad as universities have started accepting applications and visa opportunities have also opened up for foreign placement.

However, making applications for universities abroad can often get quite overwhelming. Many students find it difficult to make applications, as some are unaware of the proper procedure, and are confused about where to start. To make it all much easier, they can get help from organizations dedicated to helping these aspiring students with solutions and consultation for foreign placement.

Study Group, a leading provider of international education, works with universities around the world to ensure success for students. One of the amazing initiatives they have taken is the ‘University Fair’ they recently organized. The event that took place in The Westin, Dhaka, featured six top universities that provided comprehensive information to aspiring students willing to study abroad, easing up the entire application procedure by a notch. At the fair, students found solutions to their doubts and answer to their queries about their applications to their desired universities.

The increasing importance of foreign education within the country has necessitated the importance of organizations in smoothening the entire process of applying abroad. Such organizations play a significant role in shaping the identity of our youth, who go on to leave their marks and make a difference, across the globe. 

The writer is, Regional Director South Asia, Study Group