As the global demand for skilled professionals continues to rise, Indian graduates are increasingly turning to STEM and MBA degrees to gain a competitive edge in the evolving job market. In response to this growing trend, Simpled hosted a thought-provoking webinar on September 18, 2024, titled “Understanding the Demand for STEM & MBA Degrees Among Indian Graduates.” Led by industry experts Dr. Sandhya Subramanian and Deepika Phukan from The WPI Business School, the session delved into key insights surrounding student motivations, emerging market trends, and the critical role that international education plays in shaping the future of Indian talent.
Market Overview
India has firmly established itself as a global leader in STEM education, according to the Technology and Innovation Report 2018 released by UNCTAD. The report highlights that a staggering 29.2% of the approximately 5 million students worldwide who received bachelor’s degrees in STEM subjects in 2012 were from India, showcasing the country’s strong focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This impressive figure underscores India’s critical role in shaping the global STEM talent pool, with a growing number of students seeking these degrees as a pathway to innovation-driven careers.
Additionally, India’s MBA education market has been experiencing exponential growth. Valued at $7.3 billion in recent years, the market is projected to reach an impressive $12.9 billion by 2032, reflecting the increasing demand for business education among Indian students. With an MBA still viewed as a prestigious qualification, particularly in leadership roles, the rise of this sector highlights India’s evolving economic landscape and its students' aspirations for versatile, high-impact careers.
According to UNESCO Institute of Statistics, India has 34% of students choosing STEM and is producing the most graduates
in the field
According to CAT data released till the year 2023, close to 3 million Indian students took The Common Admission Test (CAT) for acceptance in a suitable MBA school
Case Study: How The WPI Business School enhances the Indian student experience by focusing on multiple dimensions:
Academic Support: Offering comprehensive academic resources tailored to the needs of international students.
Co-Curricular Support: Promoting student engagement beyond the classroom through clubs, internships, and projects.
Mentorship and Career Support: Providing structured mentorship programs and career development opportunities that align with students' academic and professional goals.
Community Building: Fostering a sense of belonging through events, student groups, and support networks, ensuring that students feel part of a vibrant academic community.
Launching International Student Recruitment Activities in India:
Collaborating with Aggregators and Universities: Establishing partnerships with Indian educational platforms and local universities to extend outreach.
Allocating Budget Effectively: Ensuring that recruitment budgets are strategically spent on high-impact activities and events in India.
Providing Opportunities for Incoming Students on Campus: Highlighting on-campus resources and support systems available to international students, making it an appealing factor in recruitment.
Key Indian Student Markets to explore
Motivations driving the demand for STEM & MBA in India
Indian Government Initiatives toward STEM & MBA
The Indian government has launched several forward-looking initiatives aimed at strengthening the demand for STEM and MBA degrees in the country. Key among these is the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, a transformative reform aimed at shifting the focus of education from rote memorization to a more experimental, inquiry-based learning process. The NEP 2020 highlights the importance of fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation, which aligns perfectly with the skills required for success in STEM and business fields.
One of the flagship STEM initiatives under this policy is the Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL). These labs, established in schools across the country, are designed to cultivate creativity, curiosity, and a passion for hands-on experimentation among students. By providing a flexible and interactive learning environment, the ATLs enable young minds to develop innovation skills early, which ultimately strengthens the pipeline for future engineers, scientists, and business leaders.
In addition to government-led programs, several organizations are working to support India’s growing demand for STEM education. A prominent contributor is the India STEM Foundation, which plays a crucial role in supporting teachers and educators in the STEM field. By providing resources and training, the foundation ensures that teachers are equipped to guide students through modern, experiment-based learning methodologies.
The foundation’s efforts are bolstered by partnerships with major corporations, including Ford and Maruti Suzuki, which are committed to funding STEM education as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. These collaborations allow for deeper investment in STEM learning at the grassroots level, ensuring broader access to quality education and exposure to cutting-edge technologies.
A standout initiative by the India STEM Foundation is the Robo Shiksha Kendra program. This unprecedented CSR initiative brings robotics education to schools, allowing students to engage with emerging technologies through hands-on learning. The program is helping foster critical problem-solving skills and a passion for innovation, laying a strong foundation for students pursuing STEM careers.
With such a robust ecosystem of support from both government and private sectors, India’s students are being empowered to lead the future in STEM fields, further driving the demand for higher education programs in these areas.
This shift from traditional methods to experiment-based learning ensures that students are better prepared for the challenges of higher education and the competitive global workforce. As a result, these initiatives are directly contributing to the increasing demand for STEM and MBA programs, both in India and abroad.
Simpled's India Graduate Tours Fall 2024
That is all for now. Stay tuned on this space for more insights from the world of global education!
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