'A WAY TO LIVE WITH EACH OTHER'

Graduation ceremonies, picnics, dealing with local authorities - how foreign students' associations and collectives help overseas students settle in.

- Sanjay

The private universities in Greater Noida have often been the sites of conflict between their international students - many from African countries and the local communities. In 2017, five Nigerian students were accused of supplying drugs to a local youth and were arrested. They were released for the lack of evidence but there were reports of locals attacking students.

Adama Diawara, co-founder of Afro-Asian Student Connection in India, noticed that international students were facing cultural and social problems. "Hence, we came up with a way to live with each other in the best harmonious and diversified society and formed an Afro-Asian Student Connection in India in 2020," he said.

The group has members from 21 countries so far. "Our organisation addresses the issues faced by international students in Indian educational campuses, diplomatically through our Erespective embassies," said Diawara who's from Mali and an MBA student at the private Sharda University in Greater Noida.

With an increase in the number of foreign students enrolled in Indian higher education institutions, several international student groups are working to "provide a safe, secure and healthy academic environment" to them. The student-run associations help international students fight incidents of racial discrimination, help secure rented accommodation and apply for scholarships. The groups also organise events to raise awareness among international students about India and provide a sense of community.

According to the education ministry's All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), enrollment of foreign students in India's higher education system has risen from 33,151 in 2011-12 to 48,035 in 2020-21, a 44% increase. The number of countries from where students are coming to study in India has also increased from 155 to 163 over the same period.

Solving problems