For the first time since 2009, India has overtaken China as the largest source of international students in the United States. According to the latest Open Doors Report, more than 330,000 Indian students pursued higher education in the U.S. during the 2023-24 academic year, reflecting a remarkable 23% increase from the previous year.
U.S. Ambassador Garcetti announces record 330,000 Indian Students
U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti made the announcement while releasing the report during International Education Week, which celebrates the benefits of global education and exchange. “Education is not bound by borders, and collaboration between our countries and institutions is the way forward in solving the world’s challenges,” Garcetti said. “This milestone is a joint commitment by India and the United States to opportunities for learning and innovation.”
The graduate students now number close to 197,000, up 19% from the previous year and making India the largest source country for international graduate students. The number of Indians enrolled in the Optional Practical Training program jumped by 41 percent to 97,556, providing them with vital work experience. Undergraduate students increased by 13 percent with more than 36,000 in the rolls.
It also witnessed the reverse trend: American students find a better attraction in India as a destination to study abroad. From 300 U.S. students to 1,300 students in the 2022–23 academic year, the rise added to strengthening educational ties between the two countries.
Launch of Women in STEMM Fellowship
The announcement coincided with the launch of the “Women in STEMM Fellowship,” a new initiative aimed at building capacity of early-career Indian women scientists and researchers. A collaboration between the Johns Hopkins University Gupta-Klinsky India Institute and the U.S.-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment, the fellowship aims to propel mentorship, global networking opportunities, and critical research skills among India’s women scientists and researchers in fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine.
At the launch event, Ambassador Garcetti addressed the significance of gender equity in determining the future of STEMM fields. “Today we come to launch ‘Women in STEMM Fellowship’; an initiative embodying the global importance of education, collaboration, and gender equity. This effort embodies a shared belief in the transformative power of education,” he said.
Empowering women in STEMM
Johns Hopkins University President Ronald J. D.els said the fellowship will inspire innovation. “Empowering women in STEMM is critical to advancing global innovation,” he said. “This program is aimed at helping Indian women scientists overcome barriers and achieve their potential with critical support, training, and resources. We are honored to support these talented women as they lead the R&D ecosystem in India.”.
The U.S. government ensures that this critical aspect of educational partnership is not limited to higher education alone. The U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai, with the help of the University of Denver, has collaborated on a soon-to-be-launched “Digital Guide on Internationalization” for better partnerships between Indian and U.S. institutions. The guide will allow Indian colleges and universities to collaborate with each other on student and faculty exchanges, curriculum development, and research initiatives.
Learn Play Grow”, a new partnership announced by USAID with Sesame Workshop India Trust, marking International Education Week, will expand foundational learning and promote safe hygiene practice for children in the states of Rajasthan and Telangana. It will directly reach over 20,000 children and touch millions more through social media.
