Although speculating about what the future holds is associated with uncertainty, the international educational sector keeps relying on prediction models. It is difficult to keep faith on such models as challenges that exist in the form of unexpected parameters can often upset their analyses. The analysis of future international education is best when based on demographic and economic information. Also, the way these two factors combine can also determine the future growth in the education sector. Since human interactions are a part of any research or analysis, mathematical processes cannot track all the possible notions and hence, their robustness is challenged. Research reveals the fact that an increase in population coupled with the ability to finance higher education will be an important factor in determining the future of education.

What are the Drivers that influence the Education Sector?

Right from the beginning, investigators have put in a lot of effort to identify the primary drivers/ factors that would be responsible for determining the growth of higher studies in future. These drivers that are referred to as “Megatrends” have been listed below:

• A change in demographics.
• Changes in economic conditions.
• Political Scenario.
• Infrastructure in education sector.
• Digital innovations.
• International demand for skilled workforce.
• Cultural influence.

What are the Views of Indian Experts?

The Centre for Education Growth and Research (CEGR), India conducted a seminar last year, which was attended by the nation’s leading researchers, academicians and industry experts. As per one of the speakers, although India has successfully created an IT industry, it has been producing only about 2% researchers as compared to the 38% researchers that USA produces each year. Many participating people agreed to the fact that accountability and self-direction would be the primary means of achieving success in the education sector in future. It was concluded that the future of higher education rests on the association of the academic institutions and the industry.

How does Canada and Australia perceive the issue?

Market surveys in Canada or Australia include various modes of education like short courses, certificate courses, courses rendered by universities and language education. OECD forecasts implemented by the Canadian researchers reveal that the number of international students will probably hit the 6.4 million mark by the year 2025. The Australian survey that is based on the predictions of the UNESCO reports the expansion of the international student count to about 7 million by 2020. Speculations made by researchers also state the fact that many of these students would be demanding courses to be instructed in English. This leads to an important question of how and where these international students are going to be accommodated. Expenditure and costs in Australia are on the rise, so that accommodating international students will be difficult in future as per popular belief. Canada on the other hand does not face such cost issues and according to research, about 210000 students from foreign nations will be enrolled in Canadian universities by the end of 2020.

What is USA and UK’s take on the Future of Higher Studies?

Educational institutions in USA and UK have predicted a significant increase in demand for higher studies in the next 10 years. Surveys conducted by research groups in USA substantiate this claim, by revealing the fact that population of 18-22 years old people will increase by an alarming rate in the near future. British Council found out that China, India, Brazil and Indonesia could heavily contribute to this increase and add in excess of 25 million candidates for higher education in USA and UK. Other countries expected to contribute to the increase are Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

To sum up, many developed/ developing countries believe that there will be a certain increase in the demand for post-secondary education in the near future. Although Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom will be able to accommodate 210000, 100000 and 30000 international candidates, there will still be a demand for additional seats. It is expected that such students will head towards USA for the purpose of completing higher education.

Germany’s Measures to Increase International Students Till 2020

Germany’s new coalition government has decided  to invest in the programme in a view to raise the number of foreign students in the country to 350,000 by 2020. At present the number is approx. 280,000.

As per this treaty goes, the government will achieve this by making increased use of resources through the state-funded German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, which promotes international collaborations among German higher educational institutions.