A new study by City & St George’s University of London shows that 97 percent of Indian students view education as a pathway to employment and skill development, signalling a significant shift in priorities. The research, conducted by Arlington Research and released under the report “Value of Studying Abroad”, surveyed 3,000 students and parents across multiple countries and found Indian respondents to be the most career-driven.
According to the report, Indian students place high importance on applied learning, technical skills and professional behaviours when selecting higher education programmes. While 56 percent of global respondents cited job prospects as a top factor, for Indian learners the figure approaches 97 percent.
“Indian students value employability, work experience and real-world skills over classroom learning alone,” said Gemma Kenyon, Director of Employability at the university. She emphasized the growing expectation that academic courses must deliver job-ready skills and confidence to succeed in the workforce.
Additionally, 60 percent of Indian respondents emphasised technology-driven learning and 56 percent highlighted the need to build professional behaviours as part of education. The findings suggest universities need to evolve their curricula to support experiential learning and employability outcomes rather than relying solely on traditional teaching methods.
This trend underscores a broader change in educational mindset in India, where students increasingly measure value in terms of career relevance and job preparedness. Institutions both in India and abroad may need to adapt to meet aspirants’ evolving demands for education with a clear professional orientation.
