South Asia, From the Ground
About South Asia, From the Ground
South Asia, From the Ground is a conversation-led platform built on the insights, experiences, and perspectives of industry leaders across South Asia, bringing on-ground voices to the forefront of global education discussions.
In our inaugural conversation, we explore one of the biggest shifts in international education today: changing student behaviour. Drawing on more than 35 years of experience, Mr. Sushil Sukhwani, Founder and Owner of Edwise International, reflects on how students have evolved, from relying on expert guidance to navigating a world of limitless information, and what this means for the future of study abroad.
From Information Scarcity to Information Overload
When Mr. Sukhwani began counselling students in the early 1990s, information was limited. Students relied heavily on counsellors, university brochures, and education fairs to understand their options.
Today, students often arrive having spent months researching online. University websites, rankings, YouTube videos, social media platforms, and WhatsApp groups have become part of the decision-making process long before a student speaks to a counsellor.
While access to information has improved, it has also created a new challenge: information overload.
As he notes, students are often exposed to both accurate and inaccurate information, making it harder to separate fact from opinion. As a result, the role of the counsellor has shifted from providing information to helping students interpret and validate it.
| "Students today are armed with both the right information and the wrong information."
While access to information has transformed the way students begin their journey, it has also influenced how they approach decision-making itself.
More Independent, Less Willing to Take Risks?
One of the most significant behavioural shifts has been the growing independence of students.
Students today play a far more active role in researching universities, evaluating destinations, and making decisions about their future. Parents are increasingly encouraging students to take ownership of the process and make choices for themselves.
At the same time, Mr. Sukhwani believes earlier generations often demonstrated greater resilience when navigating uncertainty.
With fewer resources and less information available, students were often more willing to take risks and adapt to unfamiliar situations. Today's students are empowered by information, but they can also become overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available.
| "The student then was more resilient. The student today is more independent."
This growing independence has naturally changed another important stakeholder in the process: parents.
The Parent's Role Is Evolving
Parents remain a crucial part of the study abroad journey, particularly in South Asia.
However, their role has become more collaborative than directive. Undergraduate applicants are still heavily influenced by family discussions, while postgraduate students are generally more likely to lead the process themselves.
Parents continue to evaluate important factors such as investment, safety, and long-term outcomes, but students are increasingly taking responsibility for researching options and shaping their own educational pathways.
The result is a more balanced decision-making process between students and families.
Alongside changing family dynamics, digital platforms have become one of the biggest influences on student decision-making.
The Influence of Social Media
Few developments have shaped student behaviour as significantly as social media and digital content.
Students now consume information from multiple sources, including Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp communities, blogs, news articles, and online forums. These platforms provide valuable insights into destinations, student life, and career opportunities, but they also contribute to confusion when information lacks context or accuracy.
Perceptions around safety, employability, and destination choice can spread rapidly online, influencing both students and parents.
For universities and education professionals, building trust and providing credible information has never been more important.
Education Is Only Part of the Story
Perhaps the biggest shift is how students define the value of studying abroad.
While academic quality remains important, students are increasingly motivated by the broader experience. They are looking for independence, personal growth, cultural exposure, global networks, and opportunities that extend beyond the classroom.
Studying abroad is no longer viewed solely as an educational decision; it is increasingly seen as a life experience that shapes both personal and professional development.
| "Students are chasing education, but they're also chasing an experience and freedom."
Looking Ahead
Today's students are more informed, connected, and empowered than any generation before them. Yet their biggest challenge is no longer accessing information, it is navigating it.
For universities, counsellors, and recruitment partners, understanding these behavioural shifts is essential. Students still seek guidance, but the nature of that guidance has changed. Success increasingly depends on helping students make sense of a world filled with information, opinions, and choices.
As Mr. Sukhwani's experience demonstrates, the future of international education is not simply about providing answers. It is about helping students ask the right questions and guiding them with clarity, credibility, and trust.
About Sushil Sukhwani