UoM sees drastic fall in foreign student numbers

Mysuru: A few decades ago, the University of Mysore (UoM) was one of the popular public universities among foreign students who wished to pursue higher education in India. However, now the university is struggling to attract students from abroad.
According to GR Janardhana, director, International Center, UoM, in the academic year 2022-23, just 346 students have enrolled with them. Among them, 128 students are from Afghanistan who are sponsored by ICCR. “In the academic year 2008-09, we had recorded 3,000+ students enrolling from 62 foreign countries. This year, we have students from just 28 countries. Due to various factors, including shortage of teaching staff, Covid impact, the number of students is coming down,” he explained. We have students from Afghanistan, Kenya, Nepal, Bangladesh, South Korea, the USA and Russia, among few other countries, he said.
A majority of the students were joining UoM for post-graduation and PhD studies. However, now the vacancies for PhD studies among guides is less. “If we recruit at least 400 teaching staff, we can get around 800 foreign students for PhD studies,” he explained.
According to the University authorities, an average of 800 to 900 students from various countries, especially Asian and African countries, were joining UoM for higher studies. It is difficult to attract the students in this situation, they said.
Shortage of teaching staff
MSS Kumar, former member of the Syndicate, the highest decision making body of the UoM, blamed shortage of teaching staff in UoM for the mess. Last time teaching faculty was appointed in the university was way back in 2007. Now, among the 665 sanctioned posts, 402 are vacant. In such a situation, why will students from foreign countries join the UoM, he questioned.