It’s difficult to trace exactly when Nepali students started going toIndia for education. However, India has been an education hub for the Nepalis ever since the Gurukul system of education started. The trend accelerated with the advancement in the education system after the initiation of formal education some 200 years ago. The flow of Nepali students to the neighbouring country kept on rising since the days of the Rana regime when education used to be the exclusive prerogative of the ruling elite. Those who could afford sent their children to various places in India , with Patna, Banaras, Deharadun, Darjeeling and Gorakhpur being the popular destination for both basic and higher education.

Even after the downfall of the Rana regime, schools in Nepal could not deliver the quality education compared to those in the neighbouring country. The number of Nepali students traveling toIndia for higher studies has increased recently after the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia—other popular destinations for higher education among Nepali students—adopted tighter visa rules for students.

Apart from it’s proximity to Nepal and affordable tuition fees, the fact that the two countries share similar culture makes parents feelIndia as a secure destination for their children’s higher education.

There has been enormous progress in the education system inIndia in the last two decades, establishing itself as a leading education hub in Asia. Both the government and the private sector have made huge investments in research, laying emphasis on educated workforce with a commitment to lifelong learning. Indialeads the world in production of world-class Information Technology (IT) and management professionals, being the second largest education network in the world. Colleges like National Institute of Technology  (NIT) and the India n Institute of Technology (IIT) are considered among the best engineering institutes in the world. A report of the University Grants Commission, the main regulatory body for university education inIndia , shows that 20 central universities, 215 state

universities, 100 deemed universities and over 16,000 colleges are spread across the country. India is also a country of contrast and vast differences.

While there are very expensive private colleges and universities, there are also relatively low-cost public universities for the low-income group. India is a very diverse country and its people and their culture vary with the change of states. It also attracts thousands of students across the globe providing opportunity tostudy in a multicultural classroom. Interacting with the people from different cultures teaches tolerance, acceptance of diversity and helps to build close cultural connections which consequently helps in promoting teamwork and confidence.

A world class education system with strong government monitoring makes India a popular destination for Nepali students pursuing  higher education. According to Neeta Yogi, coordinator of Global Education Counselling Centre, which has been managing the 7th Global Career Boutique 2013, most of the students going toIndia prefer Engineering and IT followed by Management and Nursing.

Engineering and IT

Engineering is a lucrative choice for students who have completed their grade 12 with at least second division marks. Though around 10,000 students from Nepal aspire to study engineering every year, the academic institution in the country can hardly take in around 4,000, making India a natural and affordable choice to many. In the last two decades no country in the world has flourished like India in the field of engineering and IT. Home to the renowned academic institutions like IIT, NIT and Delhi University, India has a reputation

of producing world class professionals. Many India n universities have close ties with the industrial sector which provides students exposure to the practical aspect of the study and possibility of job placement. The cost of the four-year programme ranges from Rs 1 million to 1.5 million with lodging and food.

Management:

Both BBA and MBA courses in India are attuned to ensuring that practical and theoretical skills to the students. These programmes enhance a student’s leadership skills through rigorous training, assignments, reports, presentations and group projects all in order to build skills that will be crucial in real life business situation. The courses are designed to develop entrepreneurship in the student so that they can start and run businesses of their own. India is also an attractive destination for other management courses like Bachelors in Hotel and Hospitality Management and Bachelors in Travel and Tourism Manage-ment. The two-year MBA programme costs around Rs 500,000 and over Rs 1 million for four-year BBA.

Nursing

The first nursing college in India was St Stephens Hospital established in 1867 in Delhi, to provide training in nursing to Indian girls. Since then nursing courses have grown in number and quality. Medical Surgical Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Pediatric Nursing, Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing and Psychiatric Nursing are some of the nursing courses available inIndia . Due to availability limited seats for nursing students in Nepal, many students choose India , mostly in the souther state of Bangalore for their nursing courses. On an average, the students pay around Rs 700,000 to

Rs 1 million, including room and board, to complete the nursing studies in India .

Some of the top private universities and colleges inIndia are as follows:

DPG Institute of Technology:

In the present age, the demand for professionally qualified competent personnel has increased phenomenally and has led to the opening of a plethora of technical institutions in the country. Centrally located at Gurgaon, DPG Institute of Technology and Management is committed to meet a challenge of providing a galaxy of engineers and managerial professionals ready to face the challenges of a globally competitive world.

In this endeavour, the institute claims to be continuously developing and moulding students to master the changes of tomorrow. It has invested heavily in infrastructure and developed a calm and serene environment aimed at providing quality education in various professional fields.

Chitkara University

One of leading non-profit private universities of Chandigarh, Chitkara University has campuses in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. In the year 2010, Punjab State Legislature established Chitkara University, Punjab, which was first established as campus by Chitkara Educational Trust in 2002 and Himachal Pradesh State Legislature established Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh in 2008. Recognised by University Grants Commission (UGC), the university offers multi-disciplinary programmes, all of which are designed to be industry-relevant. As a result of this student-centric approach, it is renowned as one of the finest private universities in the region. From business management programmes to programmes in nursing and medical laboratory technologies; and from computer science, electronics and mechanical engineering programs, to hotel management and architecture-Chitkara University, Punjab is a veritable cornucopia of educational services. A healthy number of foreign students regularly study at the campus and number of them also visit on exchange programmes, adding to the cultural diversity found on campus.

Ishan Institute of Management & Technology

Established in 1994, Ishan Institute of Management & Technology has been providing quality education of world class, reflecting the latest advances in the field of Management and Research with the world-class infrastructure. The Institute is situated at Greater Noida, Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar (Uttar Pradesh) on the Surajpur-Kasna road. It is recognised by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Ministry of HRD, Government of India and accredited by Association of India n Universities (AIU).    It is a premier Institute with highly qualified and dedicated faculties and excellent environment for academic and intellectual growth. The first institute put aboard in the knowledge park of Greater Noida, the institute undertakes a diverse range of academic activities and interventions aimed at creation, dissemination, and application of management knowledge and practices. These include Post Graduate Diploma in Management (equivalent to MBA) in various streams.

Lovely Professional University

Since 1961 the brand ‘Lovely’ symbolizes excellence through initiative, reliability, transparency and professionalism. Lovely Professional University (LPU) is the largest university in Indiawith more than 25,000 students, 3,500 faculty and staff, offering more than 200 programmes. Duly recognised by UGC and other apex bodies, it has been recently awarded as the best Private University of the Year 2013. Lovely Professional University has memberships of various international bodies like International Asso-ciation of Universities, France; Association of Commonwealth Universities, UK; Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, USA; European Cou-ncil of Business Education, Swit-zerland; The Institute of International Education (IR), New York, among others.

Geeta Group of Institutions

Located in the historic city of Panipat, Geeta Group of Institutions (GGI) was established in 1992.  Students are awarded degrees in allied areas of studies after the completion of relevant course by Kurukshetra University, one of India ’s most renowned ‘A’ grade universities. The GGI have the recognition of All India Council of Technical Education, New Delhi; National Council of Teacher Education; Bar Council of India ; State Council Educational Research and Technology; Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi;  Board of School Education Haryana. The college was founded with the expressed intention of providing modern technical education to students. The GGI is well known in the field of education, engineering, science and technology, management and law. Besides, facilities like air-conditioned classrooms equipped with LCD projectors, digital library with DEL-NET facility.

APG Shimla University

APG Shimla University was established in 2012 to impart vibrant, comprehensive and innovative learning to students enabling them to be catalyst for change management. It is located on Shoghi-Mehli by-pass Road, Shimla, a popular tourist destination. The university was recently conferred with the “The Best University in the Hills” award by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India . Besides, it has received several other awards, including Green Building Initiative Award from South Asia Forum for Energy Efficiency, and the award for the best Emerging International University in Northern India at the All IndiaAchievers Assoc-iation, since its establishment.

Published on: 13 June 2013 | The Kathmandu Post