It has been noted that there has been a significant rise in the number of students opting to pursue their education overseas instead of remaining in their home country, particularly in underdeveloped nations. While there are a number of factors contributing to this trend, in my view, several steps could be taken to address this issue.
To begin with, there exist various causes behind phenomena. Chief among them is the limited quality of local education. It is because when students perceive the quality of education system in their home country as lacking, they might seek alternatives abroad, particularly at institutions known for high academic standards like MIT, Oxford, Harvard, and Stanford. For instance, students from countries where universities may have outdated infrastructure and limited research opportunities often look to countries like the United States or the United Kingdom, where prestigious universities such as MIT or Oxford offer state-of-the-art technology and renowned research programs.
Broadened career opportunities are another notable reason why most students want to study abroad. If students complete a degree abroad, it can open up global job markets and prestigious internship placements, potentially leading to a significant boost in career prospects, thus further strengthening their inclination toward foreign universities. For example, graduates from international institutions like Stanford or the London School of Economics often gain access to exclusive internships at multinational corporations such as Google or Deloitte. This ultimately can help them build a global professional network, thereby securing job offers that are more competitive and higher-paying as opposed to those available locally.
I, on the other hand, believe that a range of measures can be implemented at the governmental level to encourage students to study locally. The first one involves improving the quality of local education. Governments and educational institutions should invest in advancing teaching methodologies, revamping curricula, and providing better facilities to attract high-performing students who might otherwise study abroad. For example, if universities in countries like India or Nigeria improve their research facilities and offer specialized programs in fields like technology, cosmology, or business, students may prefer to study locally rather than abroad, thus benefiting from international exposure through dual degree programs.
In addition, authorities should offer financial incentives and scholarships. Providing competitive scholarships, grants, and financial aid packages can make studying locally more attractive to academic students who might be tempted by the financial aid offers available at foreign universities. A prime example is Germany, where public universities charge little to no tuition fees. Offering similar financial incentives in other countries could encourage students to remain and contribute to the local economy. Governments or private organizations could create scholarship programs that cover tuition fees, living expenses, and even travel costs to reduce the financial burden of local education, making it an equally viable option as studying abroad.
In summary, while there are several factors driving students to pursue education abroad, especially in terms of cutting-edge education standards and widened employment opportunities, it is my opinion that authority can play a pivotal role in addressing this issue. Only by enhancing the standard of national education systems as well as introducing financial aid packages and academic grants can they motivate students to remain in the home country education system.