It Is India’s Time: Why Global Education Is Shifting Beyond the Big Four
Our Director Shri Manaye K.S addressed NSUT students at Consilium 2025, welcomed by Mr. Sanket Vashisth, President of the Finance and Economic Society, highlighting India’s rise as a global education hub and its growing prominence in international education.
For decades, international education revolved around what we often call the Big Four: the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Canada. Together, they attracted nearly half of the world’s international students and built higher education models that relied heavily on overseas tuition revenue.
But in 2025, that dominance is under strain. Economic pressures, visa restrictions, and shifting geopolitics are forcing students — especially from India — to look beyond traditional destinations. At the same time, India itself is emerging as a host of world-class campuses, supported by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and initiatives like GIFT City in Gujarat.
This is more than a market trend. It is a rebalancing of global education. And it is why we say with confidence: It is India’s time.
This very message was emphasised when Mr. Manaye K.S., Director of GMG, delivered his keynote speech at Consilium 2025, the NSUT Fest organised by the Finance & Economics Society (FES). Speaking to policymakers, academics, and student leaders, he underlined how India’s role in global education is moving from the margins to the centre — and why now, more than ever, it is India’s time.
The Financial Strain on the Big Four
The numbers tell a clear story:
In the United States, new international student arrivals dropped from 106,993 in July 2024 to just 76,519 in July 2025 — a steep fall that threatens tuition-dependent universities (Forbes).
Canada has tightened visa rules, leading to a 31% drop in Indian student permits, from 44,295 to 30,650 in early 2025 (Economic Times).
In the UK, foreign enrolments declined by 7% in 2023–24, including a 15% fall in Indian students, driven by restrictions on dependent visas and postgraduate pathways (ICEF Monitor).
In Australia, the leading recruitment agency IDP announced cost-cutting to ride out an expected 20–25% market decline (The Australian).
For the UK alone, where international students contributed £37.4 billion to the economy in 2021–22, this downturn represents more than lost tuition: it’s a shock to the wider economy.
The Rise of New Education Hubs
As cracks appear in the Big Four, other regions are stepping forward:
Eastern Europe — Poland, Hungary, and Georgia have become medical education hubs, offering EU-recognised degrees at a fraction of Western costs.
Central Asia — Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are investing in English-medium programmes and cross-border collaborations.
The Middle East — Dubai and Riyadh are rapidly developing into higher education centres, supported by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
India — Perhaps the most important shift: India’s NEP 2020 allows global universities to establish campuses. GIFT City in Gujarat already hosts Deakin University, with more to follow.
UK universities themselves are adjusting to this reality. The University of Southampton has announced plans to open a campus in Delhi by 2025, investing £30 million to serve 5,500 students annually at lower tuition costs (Financial Times). The University of Birmingham and others are moving in the same direction (Times of India).
Why? Because these universities know that relying solely on foreign students flying abroad is no longer sustainable.
Education as Geopolitics
Education has also become a tool of diplomacy and soft power:
In Central Asia, universities are part of the balance between Russia, China, and the West.
In the Middle East, branch campuses are tied directly to post-oil economic strategies.
In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has framed education as central to the “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) vision. His recent meeting with Japanese leader Shigeru Ishiba placed education cooperation — including campuses in India and the UAE — at the centre of bilateral talks.
This is why student flows today are shaped not only by rankings and affordability, but by policy frameworks and international strategy.
GMG’s Perspective
At Greater Manchester Global (GMG), we have seen this transformation on the ground:
In the last five years, GMG has supported over 5,000 students in exploring opportunities outside the Big Four.
40% chose Eastern Europe and Central Asia, largely for medicine and engineering.
35% went to the Middle East, particularly Dubai and Riyadh.
The rest benefitted from new campuses in India, enabled by NEP 2020 and GIFT City.
Our work shows clearly that students are voting with their feet — toward destinations that are affordable, forward-looking, and geopolitically stable.
The Future: A Multipolar Education World
Looking ahead, four trends will define the next decade of global education:
Multipolar Mobility — 10–15 hubs will compete for students, replacing the dominance of four.
Campuses Without Borders — dual degrees, branch campuses, and hybrid models will allow students to access global education locally.
Policy as a Driver — national frameworks like NEP 2020, Saudi Vision 2030, and Uzbekistan’s Higher Education 2030 will shape flows more than rankings alone.
Education as Diplomacy — scholarships, student flows, and campuses will serve as instruments of soft power.
Conclusion: India’s Time
The message is clear: It is India’s time.
India is no longer just the largest sender of students abroad.
India is becoming a hub for hosting global universities, shaping education policy, and exporting talent and knowledge.
As the world rebalances, India is uniquely positioned to be the anchor of a new multipolar education system.
At GMG, we believe this shift is not accidental. It is strategic, and it must be designed carefully. By building ethical, transparent, and sustainable education pathways, we can ensure that this opportunity becomes a foundation for India’s Viksit Bharat vision.
