March 4, 2006

Ahmed, a 19-year-old bright student, decided to go to UK for higher studies. His academic record was excellent here and he was even offered admission in some of the most prestigious institutions such as IBA and LUMS after his A-level. But he preferred going abroad even though the foreign universities cost him four times more than the local ones. The main reason put forward by him was: “You see we have many bright students here who are entering a reputable universities. After five years we will have far more well educated people in the country who will all be competing for the limited job opportunities that our country has to offer, so the blue-eyed candidates for jobs would be the ones who would have exceptional academic record or whose resume would have something unique in terms of education such as a foreign degree. I want to have both of these qualities.”

There are many young boys and girls from the current crop of school, college and university students who are running from pillar to post to get admission in a foreign university and then a student visa to go abroad and fulfill their dreams. While education seems to be the strongest driving force, better job opportunities and a more enhanced lifestyle are also equally compelling reasons for their decisions.

Going abroad for higher education has its share of high and low points. This story is aimed at educating the young generation about what they can expect to be in store for them if they plan to go abroad, and clearing some preconceived notions that many young people have about life in a distant world.

Let’s begin with the positive aspects. Foreign education, especially degrees from US and UK, enjoy a very high credibility all over the world. One can go anywhere in the world with that degree that would speak volumes about ourselves and ourselves and our educational experience. This is an undeniable fact. The reputable educational institutes in these countries are more than a 100 years old and do not only inculcate theoretical knowledge in students but also enables them to apply this knowledge in a practical world. It requires a consistent effort from the student’s side to make his/her way out and finish a degree. Employers throughout the world are aware of the teaching criteria of these institutions and know that if one possesses such a degree then one would really have something extraordinary going in one’s favour. That’s why people from all over the world want to get a degree from places like US, UK, and Australia.

The availability of scholarships, especially in the US, also acts as a puller for many prospective students. Finances are a major issue in pursuing education and a deterrent for many. So, having coverage of full or part of the tuition expenses is the best thing a student can dream of at the moment considering the exorbitant amount of fees charged from foreign students. Mehmood, an A-level high achiever, has got full scholarship at Yale University for four years and is currently pursuing a degree in Finance at this university. Although the opportunities to earn scholarships for international students are far less as compared to the local residents, there are still cases like Mehmood’s that reinforces positive sentiments in students for foreign education. The university campuses offer a variety of facilities that compliment your studies to make a pleasant learning experience. There are experts on every subject you’ve ever heard of. You’ll find world-class research opportunities for overseas studies, intramural athletic programmes, student government, school newspapers, professional societies, community service organizations and internship programmes. These are as important to your future as your classes, but one has to take advantage of them

After getting a degree one has an option of getting hired directly through the career centres in the universities that connect the fresh graduates with the top employers in the business community. Students find better job opportunities in these countries that truly match their educational and analytical competencies that they have developed over several years of study. Of course, the pay packages are a lot more appealing over there as compared to here. So the lucrative returns that can be expected if one study and work abroad acts as a pulling force for many candidates.

The only exception is USA where foreign students are not legally allowed to work. However, one can work on campus but that’s surely not an aim of a student who goes the all the way to US to get a degree. Some students, a significant percentage, marry American citizens and get a green card and then start working while some get their green cards through their families and then start working. Working legally for foreign students is a big issue in the US.

Now the downers

Going abroad for better education and opportunities is undoubtedly a life time investment for foreign students but this whole process is not as smooth as it may sound. There are many hurdles foreign student can face and suddenly living completely on your own in a different country is simply not a walk in a park.

The major problem is of finances for the majority. Although students are aware of the financial standing required to get enrolled in a foreign college or universities, the skyrocketing expenses including the tuition fees ranging from $15,000 to $20,000 a year in the US and around pounds 13,000 a year in UK is something that only a few can afford, especially in our country. It is a common observation that many students take part time or full time jobs along with their studies. There is nothing wrong about it but a significant percentage of students are unable to balance their high demanding jobs and their studies at the same time. As a result of which they either lag behind in their studies or discontinue studying altogether.

One Pakistani parent of an undergraduate student living in the US strongly opposes the idea of working for students. “I have experienced this myself that when the young students start earning and getting lucrative returns even in their odd or menial jobs they find it tempting to work more hours and get more money. This way they start spending their study time in their work and end up either taking fewer courses or getting lower grades. I can understand the compulsion to work for students who have financial difficulty but what’s the rush to start earning quick bucks for a student whose family can afford to pay for their education. It is very difficult to keep our children away from the charm of earning quick bucks in odd jobs in foreign countries. I think students should first aim at completing their degrees and they can work the rest of their lives. Without these degrees, believe me they would continue to do the same kind of work in western countries and would be very happy with it. I am saying this so confidently because I have seen so many people doing this. It’s better to get a cheaper degree from one’s own country than to abandon studies and do odd jobs abroad.”

It’s also not easy to work out the residence problem. On-campus residence is expensive, to say the least, and sharing a one bedroom apartment, which is an alternative, with another student is yet another problem if he/she has totally different preferences than you. Also many parents are concerned about their children adopting western culture and lifestyle during their time of stay.

One simply cannot deny the joys of living with the family during the time of study. Students studying abroad miss out on the comforts of living in what we call home in the true sense of word as opposed to the dorms. It’s the only when we start living in another country, we begin to realize the impact that our culture has on us. Staying away from all the norms that comprises our society and starting to adapt to another’s is definitely a tough call.

Many career counsellors in Pakistan have started promoting the idea of staying in Pakistan for at least undergraduate degrees keeping in mind the financial cost involved and the problems of living away from home. Also, the education system in Pakistan has seen some improvements within the last few years because of the addition of some prestigious universities on the educational map of Pakistan.

 

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