Batuk Gathani

More than the recently hiked visa and visa extension fees to Britain and Europe, what could deter foreign students more is the rising spectre of racism in European educational institutions.

EUROPEAN governments are in a psychological "bind" over the problems of coping with illegal immigrants, economic migrants, asylum seekers and foreign students who "over stay" in violation of visa norms. Then there is the "religion" factor.

Many students from West Asia feel they are facing "racial and ethnic" discrimination and are, therefore, weighing the option of returning to their countries of origin. Also, across much of Europe, there is a lack of dialogue between government authorities and leaders of the minority communities.

According to recent estimates, there are nearly half a million "illegal" migrants in the UK and those in France, Germany and the Benelux could be "much higher". The seeming inability of the European authorities to "cope" with the crises of illegal immigrants has ushered in an "ugly and nasty" racist atmosphere. The British authorities are also proposing to introduce "strict guidelines and measures" to tackle the problem of "over stay" by foreign students.

At a recent meeting of the European Union Interior or Home Affairs Ministers, an agreement was reached on a package deal to fly out illegal immigrants on what is to be called "Asylum Airways". France, Germany and the Benelux will also participate in this strategy. But how it will work in the case of illegal immigrants from Eastern and Central Europe remains to be seen.

Many of these countries are in "advanced stage" of negotiations to join the EU, which currently comprises 25 member-states with a total population of some 350 million.

In France, most illegal immigrants are from North and Central Africa, which were under the French colonial rule until the advent of President de Gaulle, who, in "one stroke" resolved to grant full independence to the French colonial states which so desired. But France is yet to recover from the "hangover" of its colonial past.

In Germany there are over two million Turkish workers who migrated in the post-War "boom" years to build the German economy. They were then called "guest workers" and treated with much respect.

In Britain, most of the immigrants are from the Indian sub-continent (eight lakh Indians, four lakh Bangladeshis and over half a million Pakistanis) and an almost equal number come from the former African colonies and parts of West Indies.

The authorities seem to have "no problems" dealing with the current second/third generation of migrants. Many have prospered and the Indian ethnic community now ranks among the richest in the UK. The problem, though, is with "illegal" migrants — mostly from Bangladesh, Pakistan and poor African countries — and they number over five lakh, according to latest British government estimates.

With the "Visa noose" tightening on foreign students, especially those from Asian, especially West Asian countries, many observers feel this can be translated into a "golden opportunity", by attracting such students to prominent Indian universities.

Many Iranian and Arab students point out that they find living in India a "tension free" experience and have genuinely enjoyed their stay. The British and European universities are getting far too "expensive" for foreign students who could be spending equivalent of Rs 75,000 or Rs 1 lakh a month in tuition fees and an equivalent amount towards living expense.

As many British universities depend on the fees paid by foreign students, the raising of visa fees for these students evoked protests from the vice-chancellors of these universities. There are over 47,000 Chinese students in British universities and education "export" by the UK could be worth more than £20,000 million by 2020. China, India and Malaysia are trying to launch a sustained campaign to attract more foreign students. India has the advantage of having a large English-speaking population and the education system has much in common with those in the West.

Though the visa and visa extension fees to Britain and Europe have been hiked substantially lately, what could deter foreign students more is the rising spectre of racism in European educational institutions. India, China and Japan have a chance to "cash in" on this.

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