India’s global education hub ambitions: Recent student mobility trends, the underlying dynamics and strategy perspectives

Abstract

India, traditionally one of the largest exporters of mobile students, has adopted wide-ranging policies to attract more international students. This research draws on a secondary analysis of published international student mobility (ISM) statistics for the 2012 to 2021 timeline and a text-based examination of Indian higher education (HE) policy discourses. The analysis reveals a comparatively measured increase in international student enrolments in Indian HE, given the global ISM wave and the increasingly significant receiver roles of other non-traditional Asian host countries. A closer examination reveals that the Indian inbound ISM landscape is increasingly risky given the significant and increasing dependence on a few South Asian countries. Against these observations, the possible reasons for the slow growth in inbound ISM and policy measures to help attract more international students are discussed. Finally, a framework-based assessment of countries in the East African region is illustrated as an initial step in advancing a diversification strategy.