Foreign varsities eye international schools in B’luru

Setting a new campus trend in Bengaluru, several foreign universities are eyeing a bunch of international schools to pick students for their academic programmes. Offering multiple options, foreign universities have been giving parents of high school students a tough time.

Representatives of foreign universities have been briefing students from as early as Classes 9 and 10 about a wide variety of courses in the last few weeks. Several prominent international schools across the city have been holding consultation and counselling programmes hosted by reputed foreign universities.

In the last one month alone, as many as 15 foreign universities from the USA, UK, Australia and South East Asia have visited many schools, according to sources. Kum Kum Dutta, College Guidance Counsellor at the Canadian International School said these universities are approached when schools attend conferences.

“Generally by July and August, they start reaching out to us. On designated days, the meetings of these universities representatives’ with parents and students are scheduled,” she said.

According to her, the universities counsel students about requirements, eligibility criteria, and courses besides helping them prepare for admission tests.

While students as early as Class 9 get to interact with these university representatives, active counselling begins when students are admitted to 11th grade, according to her.

Besides, schools also offer psychometric tests to students to help them understand their strengths prior to attending the university counselling.

Aloysius D’mello, principal, Greenwood High said, starting this year, Class 9 students would be introduced to counselling. “All these years, it would be for Class 11 students. But due to a variety of choices, there will be confusion and they are forced to take up what their parents consider right. Our tests help students overcome this problem,” he said.

Joel Kribairaj, administrator, admissions officer and examination officer CIE Mallya Aditi International School said that on an average, about 100-125 universities visit the campus every year and the interaction has been of great help for students and parents.

In the first round, universities make a general representation after which a one-on-one session is offered to students by the representatives.

The trend, according to Aloysius, helps students choose subjects they wish to pursue at the 11th grade. “About 80% of our students choose foreign universities for higher education,” Aloysius explained.