Number of Indian students in US drops again

In the year 2011-12, the Chinese student enrollments have increased by 23 per cent in total and by 31 per cent at the undergraduate level, according to the 2012 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange released yesterday.

The report finds that the number of international students at colleges and universities in the United States has increased by six per cent to a record high of 7,64,495 in the 2011-12 academic year, while the US students studying abroad increased by one per cent.

This year, international exchanges in all 50 states contributed USD 22.7 billion to the US economy.

Overall, China sends the maximum number of 1,94,029 students in the year 2011-12 as against 1,57,558 in the previous year.

While China registered an increase in enrollment in American universities, it dropped for those coming from India by 3.5 per cent to 1,00,270 students.

"The number of Indian students in the US in 2011-12 dropped 3.5 per cent compared to the previous year, marking two consecutive years of decline. India had been the leading place of origin for international students in the US from 2001-02 through 2008-09," the report said.

In 2000-01 there was a surge in enrollments from India, with an increase of 30 per cent, followed by two more years of strong growth (12 per cent

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