Multicultural values ​​are gaining ground on campuses | Ahmedabad News

Gujarat has about 5,500 foreign students from at least 70 countries enrolled in its universities. A large number of them study engineering, IT, science and management, making learning in inclusive classrooms an enriching experience.
In an increasingly interconnected world, a campus full of international students is something that young people dream of who want to broaden their horizons before navigating cross-cultural environments in their careers. According to the AllIndia Survey on Higher Education report (2021) -22), there are 46,878 students from 170 countries enrolled in Indian universities.
While Karnataka tops the list with 6,004 foreign students studying in its universities, Gujarat ranks sixth with 3,593 students, making the universities here a melting pot of cultures. According to government sources, the number is currently around 5,500.
Vadodara, the cultural capital of the state, attracts international students who want to pursue performing arts, arts, visual arts and engineering.
The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSU), the only English-language university in Gujarat, currently has around 412 international students, 56 of whom are pursuing PhDs. Students from neighboring country Bangladesh top the list when it comes to enrollment at MSU.
Of the 92 students from 21 countries admitted to MSU in 2023-2024, 45 are from Bangladesh, nine from Gambia, seven from Mauritius, five from Botswana and Burundi, three from Uganda, two from Egypt and Sri Lanka and one each from Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, the United States, Zimbabwe and Angola.
Of these, 32 are studying performing arts, 18 arts, 14 technology and engineering, nine commerce, eight science and five pharmacy.
“A large proportion of our international students study dance, vocal music, drama and Indian musical instruments,” says Prof. Gaurang Bhavsar, dean of the faculty of performing arts. In countries such as Mauritius, MSU alumni teach Indian classical music. “They are our ambassadors. Since our educational standards are high, they encourage their students to pursue higher studies at MSU,” he said. “Most students from Bangladesh prefer to study kathak, tabla, sitar, violin and vocal music. Some also lean towards visual arts and arts. More recently, they have also started enrolling in engineering courses,” said Prof. Dhanesh Patel, director of MSU’s Office of International Affairs.
Shift to technology
The shift towards technical courses started after the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) gave the go-ahead for admission to international students. “We have implemented the AICTE rule in 2021-2022,” said Patel, who is also dean of the faculty of technology and engineering where 14 international students were admitted last year to study metallurgy, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, architecture and pharmacy.
While a majority of students from Nepal are interested in engineering and pharmacy, students from southern African countries like Namibia and Botswana prefer management and engineering. Students from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Angola, Malawi and Mozambique would like to study social work, business and management; those from Kenya and South Sudan opt for engineering and food and nutrition courses, while students from Uganda prefer commerce and microbiology, said Patel, explaining the trend.
When it comes to West Africa, students from Gambia choose commerce, students from Ivory Coast choose environmental sciences and students from Nigeria choose library and information sciences.
“Due to the presence of a large number of mines, students from the Republic of Congo prefer technical disciplines such as metallurgy and chemical engineering. Students from Ethiopia tend towards engineering and history,” he said.
“A majority of students from Egypt go on to study music, while those from Syria choose textile engineering and textile chemistry.”
Ahmedabad is home to 300 foreign students, police sources said. At the Gujarat Technological University alone, 109 foreign students enrolled in 2023-2024.
prospects in their home country
Parul University (PU) in Vadodara has over 3,680 international students from over 70 countries including Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Madagascar and Mozambique, along with a few from the Gulf region and the Pacific Islands.
“They are taking technical, paramedical, health sciences, liberal arts, performing arts and management courses, among others,” said Vandit Anjaria, director of international affairs at PU. “Students from Nepal prefer PU because the campus environment is vibrant and inclusive. Similarly, due to the lack of professional courses in their home country despite a fast-growing IT sector, students from Zimbabwe are attracted to business studies and computer applications.”
The prospects offered by a thriving tourism industry at home are driving Tanzanian students to opt for hotel management courses at university.
Mini Africa in South Gujarat
About 250 students from over 25 African countries besides Nepal, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh, USA and Iran are enrolled in various courses at VNSGU, PP Savani University and Auro University in South Gujarat.
“When the Vice President of my country visited India for his treatment, I heard about the medical facilities in the country. That’s when I decided to study nursing in India,” says Mariam Hydara from Gambia, a student at PP Savani University.
Besides paramedical education, engineering, management and humanities are the other disciplines that attract a large number of foreign students to Gujarat.
Ed-Lynn Dube, a student from Zimbabwe, plans to open a pharmaceutical company back home after completing her masters in pharmacy, while Christine Muringani from Zimbabwe and Teressa Aman from South Sudan are pursuing civil engineering with the dream of to build great modern structures after their return.
“We are children of war. We aspire to see our nation on par with the developed countries of the world,” Aman said. Ellyna Kaily from Papua New Guinea decided to study in India because she wanted to learn more about the country’s history and ethos.
Cross-cultural influences
The universities do everything they can to make foreign students feel at home, take into account their food preferences and celebrate their cultural and religious events.
“We have more than 225 foreign students from more than 25 countries on our campus. All festivals are celebrated here. We also make arrangements for sehri, iftar and Good Friday prayers,” said Sneh Savani, director of PP Savani University.
When asked what makes Gujarat the preferred choice for African students, Savani said: “They respect the Indian education system. Our fees are affordable and we also award scholarships.”
In addition to students from African and Middle Eastern countries, Surat’s Auro University has five students from Nepal. Om Mahasheth is taking a cybersecurity course as he wants to open a cybersecurity company after returning to Nepal, while Ayushi Shahi and Samjhana Bhattarai, hotel management students, want to pursue a career in the hospitality industry. Sangita GC decided to pursue a fashion and textile design course in Surat considering the internship opportunities available at the textile units in the city. “I want to work in Surat for a few years, gain some experience and open a boutique in Nepal,” she said.
At Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU), many students have availed the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarships and enrolled in BA, BCom, BBA and PhD courses.
1,500 students in Rajkot
A majority of international students enrolled in Rajkot universities are from African countries. According to sources, of the 1,500 foreign students admitted in 2023-2024, 195 are from South Sudan, followed by 157 from Nigeria, 146 from Tanzania and 143 from Madagascar. Most of them are students of Marwadi University.
Information technology is most preferred, followed by mechanical engineering and civil engineering. About 30% of foreign students studying in Rajkot pursue MBA and BBA and 20% pursue courses related to healthcare.
Naresh Jadeja, Registrar, Marwadi University, said: “The number of students from the African continent is high and there are several reasons for this. There are many Indian telecom companies active. Car companies from Rajkot and ceramics companies from Morbi have offices there. So foreign students can do internships here at these companies to gain some experience and then return to Indian companies in their home countries.”
—With input from Nimesh Khakhariya