Indian students happy to be back on foreign university campuses, reveals survey

A recent study, the ‘Global Student Survey 2022’ by Chegg.org, indicates that Indian students believe the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted their university experience, with a majority expressing a perceived improvement in mental health upon returning to campus. Published on Thursday, the survey found that 77 percent of Indian students, the highest among 21 surveyed countries, felt that the pandemic negatively affected their college or university experience. Furthermore, 55 percent of Indian students reported an enhancement in mental well-being since resuming on-campus studies, ranking second-highest globally, after Australia (60 percent).

Dan Rosensweig, President and CEO of Chegg, highlighted that college students are gradually readjusting to campus life post the unprecedented disruption caused by the pandemic. He emphasized the need for governments, businesses, and higher education institutions to use the survey data to better support students in the current COVID era and beyond.

The study also revealed that 27 percent of Indian respondents expressed regret about their decision to attend college or university in light of the pandemic, ranking second after Turkey (29 percent). Additionally, 62 percent of Indian students with study-related loans wished they had made a different choice, and 31 percent believed they might never fully repay their loans. Despite these concerns, the percentage of Indian students with study-related debt or loans decreased from 27 percent in 2021 to 22 percent in 2022.

Rosensweig emphasized the need for higher education to become more accessible, affordable, and responsive to students’ needs. This includes providing increased mental health support, teaching skills relevant to future careers, and addressing environmental concerns.

The study, based on opinion polling conducted by Yonder among over 17,000 undergraduate students aged 18-21 across 21 countries, including 1,008 students in India, covered various aspects such as learning during the COVID era, financial challenges, skills and careers, health and well-being, and environmental sustainability. Globally, 60 percent of students felt the pandemic had negatively impacted their university experience, while 39 percent believed it would permanently damage their employment prospects. Additionally, 54 percent of students worldwide expressed doubts about the effectiveness of online teaching by their teachers or professors.