Looking beyond the Big 4, Indian aspirants eye Europe and Asia
For those of us working in international education, much of this will come as no surprise. One key takeaway, however, is how Indian students are becoming increasingly strategic in their approach to studying abroad. ROI, career outcomes, and post-graduation opportunities are now top priorities in their decision-making. And while this article centres on India, the trend is far from unique — prospective students around the world are making similar calculations as they evaluate where to invest in their education.
Indian students are not shifting aspirations but are making more informed and outcome-aligned decisions due to which the education sector has evolved to become multipolar. For decades, international education was seen to be dominated by the Big Four but today, we are witnessing the emergence of multiple education ecosystems, including one within India, that are competing not only on academic excellence, but on innovation, employability, research capability and their ability to attract global talent.
The Trump Administration Moves To Tighten Grip on Colleges
It has been widely anticipated that the current administration would pursue sweeping changes to both K-12 and higher education. Many of these changes were outlined in policy proposals before President Trump took office. One such measure is the executive order REFORMING ACCREDITATION TO STRENGTHEN HIGHER EDUCATION (E.O. 14279), which directs the Secretary of Education to approve accreditors operating under lower standards, prohibit universities from running diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and expand federal oversight over what professors teach, research, and publish.
A new rule is in the works that will accomplish all of this and more. The linked report lays out the various aspects of the plan.
This report shows how the department’s newly drafted rules would weaken academic quality by reducing oversight, removing safeguards against predatory schools, giving inexperienced agencies the power to grant accreditation, and letting colleges shop around for the accreditor with the lowest standards. The regulations would also use accreditors to end lawful student support services, such as affinity groups or mentoring initiatives, and let the government influence classroom lessons. Together, these changes push college accreditation away from its original purpose of quality assurance and make it a weaker system that can be easily evaded and used to push federal political agendas—leaving students to pay the price.
Demand to end ‘scam’ visa program replacing American workers surges, West Virginia congressman reveals
For those of us in Washington, D.C., who regularly engage with congressional staff, these arguments are all too familiar. Unfortunately, when such narratives spread, they sow doubt among prospective international students, causing them to question whether the U.S. remains the premier destination for their education.
Although the article focuses primarily on H-1B visas, it also calls for ending the OPT program, arguing that both initiatives disadvantage domestic workers. Curiously, the piece is illustrated with a decade-old photograph of U.S. Postal Service employees protesting proposed cuts to Saturday mail delivery—hardly representative of today’s debate.
Do changes need to be made? Absolutely. Our immigration system is more than 40 years old and overdue for modernization. But instead of eliminating programs like OPT and H-1B, we should be focused on fixing and strengthening them so they continue to support American innovation and competitiveness.