International Interdisciplinary Series of Conferences on
The Global Indian Diasporas: Literary, Cultural and Socio-Economic Perspectives in the 21st Century
Session II: Student Migration from India: Opportunities and Challenges
The Conference on The Global Indian Diasporas: Literary, Cultural and Socio-Economic Perspectives in the 21st Century was held from the 23rd to the 25th of February, 2023.The conference was jointly organized by Centre for Diaspora Studies, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India. The theme of the second session, held on the 24th of February, was “Student Migration from India: Opportunities and Challenges.” The session was chaired by Ms. Paddy Siyanga Knudsen, Vice President of the Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism.
The first speakers of this session were Ms. Lekshmi. S, Research Scholar, Department of Economics Sanatana Dharma College, University of Kerala & Dr. Suby Elizabeth Oommen, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Christian College, University of Kerala. Their paper was titled “An Analysis of International Student Mobility Diaspora for Higher Education in India .” The paper examines the historical pattern and trend of student mobility from India for higher education abroad. The paper also highlights the social and political consequences of student migration. The study concludes by suggesting how the pattern of international student mobility has impacted recent policy focus on expanding higher education in India. India’s greatest strength is its large number of young people, but, unfortunately, the country is still far from figuring out how to satisfy these individuals with quality education and employment opportunities. The implications of this research, therefore, are relevant for governments, educational institutions, and organizations that wish to know the reasons for international student mobility.
Dr. Mohamed Musthafa KT, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Farook College (Autonomous), Kerala, presented his paper on “Trends and Patterns of 21st Century of Malayalee Students Migration to United Kingdom”. His paper seeks to examine and understand the trends and migration patterns of Malayalee students who sought to migrate to the United Kingdom to fulfill their educational desires.
Ms. Uma, Research Scholar, BPSMV, Khanpur Kalan, Haryana, presented her paper on “Human Migration and its Impact on Education and Society in India .”In her paper, she sought to examine migration and its impacts on Indian society and the Indian Educational System. The paper throws light into the historical evolution of human migration, which has recently become an issue of global concern and political debate. The speaker in her paper articulated that migration has shown an unbroken upward trend, be it of people who have left their homelands voluntarily for economic or other reasons or of those who have been forced to leave their homes (refugees, displaced persons, etc.). Managing human mobility is one of the greatest challenges for destination countries worldwide, in developed and developing countries.
Mr. Shamsher Singh, Senior Research Scholar, Department of Sociology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, presented his paper titled “Overseas Flow of Human Capital: A Study of Socio-Economic Conditions of Educated Unemployed Youth .”The paper provides an outline of the issue of unemployment and the flow of migration among educated, unemployed youth. According to the author, human capital is the aggregate of skills, knowledge, and intellectual properties that generate economic value. Human capital is the driving force behind economic growth, in addition to a means of lessening rising youth unemployment, poverty, and gender inequality—all of which are challenges that the world is dealing with in the twenty-first century. Employment is an integral element in the life of a person; it describes and determines the socio-economic status of a person. It offers them a level of economic protection, which would normally be a prerequisite for entry into family life. Unemployment is a severe issue and actually a problem for educated young people.
Mr. S. Balu Anand, Thiagaraj College, Madurai, presented his paper on “Push Factors for Migration of Manapad Fishermen,” which attempts to identify the push factors that caused the mobility of Manapad fishermen. His paper articulated that migration potential arises from regional discrepancies, differences in life chances, and an obvious welfare gap. Life chances are operationalized by demographic, economic, political, and ecological factors.
The final speaker, Ms. Arundhathi K, CMS College, Kottayam, Mahatma Gandhi University, presented her paper on “Social Exclusion and the Desire to return home in the Malayalam Movie Pathemari.” Her paper focuses on the exclusion faced by people like the protagonist Narayanan who is a representative of the early generation of the Keralite Diaspora in the Gulf. According to her paper, these migrants face exclusion in their native places and move to foreign countries only to earn money. They continue to remain as a migrant because of family pressure, and in states like Kerala, being a relative of Gulf Migrant is a prestige. The paper also tries to focus on how the Gulf Migrants became strangers in both their homeland and foreign land, as well as the trauma and identity crisis faced by the protagonist, which is the product of social exclusion and the lack of emotional support.
The session ended with constructive reflections from some of the Executive members of the Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism- Prof Binod Khadria and Dr. Raj Bardouille, who was the Discussant of this session, and remarks from Ms. Paddy Siyanga Knudsen, the chair of the session on Student Migration from India; Opportunities and Challenges, with Andrew Mendy as the rapporteur of the session.
Andrew Mendy holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations from the University of the Gambia and a certificate in Migration, Governance, and Diaspora Engagement from Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism, a think-tank research consortium in India that focuses on issues of Migration, Research and Policy Development. His Book review publications include The Socio-Economic Impacts of Remittances on Household Gender Roles, The Politics of Women and Migration in the Global South, and Forced Migration and Global Politics. He is a research fellow at Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism. Andrew has written several E-conference reports, including Forced Migration and Human Rights. His research interests include Politics and Globalization, Postcolonial Africa Literature, and Migration Studies.