Time To Mainstream Hybrid Overseas Learning With The Rupee Plunging And The Dollar Surging

Article Featured On: The Times Of India

As of September 2022, the Indian rupee broke through the 80-mark against the US dollar. The country’s financial situation has deteriorated as a result of the all-time low against the US dollar. The diminishing rupee will impose an additional burden on parents who plan to send their children abroad this year or who already have children studying abroad. However, experts believe that this setback can be overcome by careful planning and a hybrid learning model.

Adverse Effects of The Falling Rupee

Tuition and living costs are said to be the two most important components of students’ expenses while studying abroad. According to experts, the fall in the Indian rupee will affect the living expenses of students studying abroad or planning to study abroad in the future, as well as tuition fees, which are typically paid at the beginning of each semester. To make matters worse, many universities are planning a hike in fees, which had been held off for the last two years. Students who have already paid their tuition fees in advance at a lower exchange rate, for example, may not have to worry about financing their education but rather about the increased cost of living. Education, on the other hand, will become more expensive for those who pay semester-by-semester tuition fees because they will have to pay remaining installments based on the increased value of the dollar. These students may have to take out additional loans to cover their expenses.

Hybrid Learning Program: A Boon

It’s not surprising that more than half of Indian parents have considered sending their children abroad for education. This year, a total of 1 lakh+ Indian students went abroad for further studies. But this is becoming increasingly difficult as tuition costs continue to rise, and students are being forced to choose between continuing their education at home or moving abroad.

In response to this problem, several organizations have begun offering hybrid programs that allow students to complete their education partly at home and partly abroad. These programs allow students to pay for their tuition in both domestic currency (INR) as well as foreign currency (USD, for example). This allows them to save money when paying their tuition fees and gives them more flexibility when choosing where they want to study. It’s an excellent idea to pay in INR now and pay in international currencies later when the rupee has stabilized.

The cost savings alone make these programs a smart choice for many students. However, there are still many other benefits associated with hybrid overseas programs that make them even more compelling choices for those who are considering pursuing a degree abroad.

Students can take advantage of both traditional on-campus learning and online learning while reducing their overall cost burden. Moreover, students who complete such hybrid programs are more likely to be accepted by VISA authorities since they have already illustrated their academic commitment and expertise by completing a part of the program.

According to a survey response, students are becoming more open to hybrid learning models since they help them save money and get a head start on their courses. Furthermore, the survey found that job opportunities and costs are among the most important considerations for students when deciding on an educational destination.

Difficulties Faced With Conventional Study Abroad Programs

The conventional study route has its own set of challenges. To begin with, students often struggle with visa processes, both due to the uncertainty of acceptance and the long timelines involved. Ironically, there are numerous cases where students are forced to start online because the visa hasn’t come through but they still pay overseas on-campus fees. Instead, students can start through hybrid routes where the in-country component is priced lower and they can do their visa processing in parallel.

In addition, the overseas academic environment is very different from what students are used to in India. As a result, the first year can be difficult for students. Some parents may pay extra for support services such as tutors or counseling. This problem can be overcome by hybrid programs where the student is eased into the overseas academic environment, thus increasing their chances of success and reducing stress and anxiety.

Hybrid programs also provide a number of benefits for both students and parents. Students will be able to learn at their own pace and maintain control over their education and schedule. Simultaneously, parents will have access to resources like mentoring and counseling that are not available in traditional programs.

Hybrid Programs are Here to Stay

The hybrid model enables kids to succeed and enables education to continue in the face of a global health crisis, bad weather, transportation issues, and other problems since it is a future-ready educational paradigm. Since it combines the convenience and freedom of remote learning with the value of in-person interactions, hybrid learning is here to stay. Regardless of what the future holds for us, hybrid learning may benefit students and enable academic institutions to offer a high-quality education if it is employed purposefully and regularly.

Author: Deepak Shukla