Universities such as Rose Bruford College, Leeds Arts University, University of Guelph, EHL and University College Birmingham conducted sessions for high school counsellors and principals from over 75 schools in India. 

The sessions, which took place at the inaugural Gresham Annual Counsellors Conference by education consultancy Gresham Global, saw international universities pitching courses in acting, music, hospitality, agriculture, psychology and more. 

Though STEM remains dominant among Indian students, alternative courses are increasingly becoming popular. 

A recent survey revealed that over 75% of students in India now prefer to pursue arts or humanities for higher studies. 

The university representatives pitched their undergraduate programs to the audience with a focus on aspects of Indian society. 

“Hospitality is called ‘atithyam’ in Sanskrit and it is something innate in our Indian culture,” said Hardik Shah, study representative for Swiss hospitality management school, EHL.

According to Shah, the hospitality industry is growing by 7% year on year, accounting for 10% of all jobs in the world, making EHL lucrative due to its reputation as one of the best hospitality schools in the world. 

“Our Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management is a four-year course, which includes two six-month internships, thus helping students live their course practically,” said Shah. 

“About 30% of our students eventually work in the hotel management industry or a similar environment, the rest move to a non-hospitality industry… students can be part of every possible industry from banking to customer interaction, and more.”

On the other hand, Rose Bruford capitalised on India’s love for films, drama and music with many of its courses catered towards these areas.

Hiral Shah, India and South Asia representative for Rose Bruford College highlighted the institute’s proximity to central London and the city’s status as a major entertainment centre. 

“London is known as the theatre capital of the world with more than 200 theatres in the city,” said Shah.

“Theatre as an industry has contributed approximately £11.5 billion to the UK economy since 2022 and has provided employment to more than 200,000 people in the UK.”

The institution, situated in the Greater London borough of Bexley, has degree programs in acting, actor musicianship, theatre arts, direction, costume production, visual production designing, among others.

“We are the first drama school in the UK with an XR stage, which can be used by students to shoot short films, advertisements, and more,” shared Shah. 

Though concerns about employability and housing remain, universities like the University of Guelph remain confident in its opportunities for Indian and international students.

Despite Canada’s recent policy changes, and diplomatic row with India, the country is home to over 427,000 Indian students. 

Many students from South Asia pursue BA in Psychology at the University of Guelph, with Political Science, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Toxicology, also popular choices for students from the region. 

Jimmi Hemmenbach, regional operations manager for the Middle East and South Asia at the University of Guelph, highlighted the institution’s 92% employment rate for students within six months of graduation – one of the highest among Ontario universities.

The university also prides itself on its employment services for students while they are studying, including around 600 jobs on campus for international students.

“The university itself has a specific department focused on supporting student needs when it comes to finding employment. They teach you how to sit in interviews, how to build up your resume, and how to build up your cover letters,” added Hemmenbach. 

The conference, which was the first of three this year, will also be held in Bangalore and Delhi on September 12 and September 17, respectively. 

“The career landscape for high school students is more dynamic than ever before,” said Jasminder Khanna, co-founder, Gresham Global. 

“The inaugural GACC 2024 was our commitment to empowering these educators. By showcasing unconventional pathways from top international institutions and fostering insightful discussions, we aim to create a transformative experience for counsellors.”