COVID-19 impact: Foreign institutions woo Tamil Nadu students through virtual tours

Every year, higher education institutions abroad will conduct an education fair for the students in Chennai and important cities during the start of the new academic season. However, as there was no clue concerning the restoration of normalcy in the State, exhibitions could not be conducted here.

“Our research has shown that 65% of Indian undergraduates and 59% of postgraduates who had planned to study in the UK in 2020/21 are “not at all likely” to cancel or delay their plans. Therefore, we have taken our Study UK education fairs online on December 5”, Janaka Pushpanathan, Director South India British council told DT Next.

British Council’s move to organise virtual tours came against the backdrop of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the State.

Stating that about 40 UK universities were participating in the virtual fair with the help of the council, she said: “It supports students to make an informed decision by getting direct access to representatives from UK universities as well as key experts in UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)”.

Similarly, US Consul General Judith Ravin also launched International Education Week (IEW) online highlighting the US Consulate Chennai’s increase in student visa interviews this November.

According to Judith Ravin, IEW 2020, which is online this year, is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the US Department of Education to promote programs. This year’s online IEW organized several programs that include a roadmap to undergraduate study in the United States and transfer to a U.S. University during undergraduate study.

Likewise, the webinar focused on higher education in Russia was also held at the Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Chennai recently. Among the subjects discussed were the application process, travel aspects, and training for those Indians who plan to study in Russian universities.

To prepare students, the Consulate General of France in Pondicherry also organized an online session titled ‘Bienvenue en France’. These sessions will acquaint students with essential administrative procedures, ways of finding accommodation, tips from alumni, information about their destination, and practical advice to help them prepare for student life in France.