The recent US decision to pause student visa interviews for enhanced social media vetting has increased anxiety among Asian students, who once viewed American universities as key pathways to global career opportunities.
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International students have been facing deportations for taking part in political protests to trivial offences such as traffic violations, dimming the allure of the American dream. Cuts to federal research grants have also driven students and academics to seek opportunities abroad.
Other countries such as France and Canada have jumped into the fray to bring top academic talent from America to their shores – similar to how global companies compete to bring aboard highly-skilled professionals to give them an edge.
For Asian countries such as India, which have struggled for decades to staunch the flow of top scientific and technological talent to America and other western nations, the churn in America’s educational and research institutions, represents a historic opportunity.
“The US has long led the world in higher education and public research funding. It is now destroying one of its greatest strengths,” said Naushad Forbes, chairman of the non-profit Ananta Aspen Centre, describing the worsening conditions as one of the most significant acts of self harm in history.
India has the student and faculty talent available. “We have to take advantage of the situation,” Forbes said, underscoring that intensive efforts are needed in research and development by tapping into academic talent offers the potential to leapfrog in economic growth.