On Monday, the Institution of International Education released an Open Doors report, revealing that the number of Indian students in the United States raised by 19% over last year to two lakh.

The Open Doors report, sponsored by the US Department of State, exposes the trend of international student exchange for the 2021-22 academic year. The annual report offers comprehensive data on international students and scholars studying or teaching at higher educational institutes in the USA. The report also shows the trend of a number of US students studying abroad for academic credit at their home colleges/ universities.

Anthony Miranda, Public Diplomacy counsellor for Cultural and Educational Affairs, US Embassy, New Delhi, said we are delighted to see this 19% growth in Indian students choosing the USA for higher education over the last year. Miranda added this is a real testament to the significance that Indian students and parents see in US education. The Indian student population is the second largest in the United States currently. The USA is home to around 9,14,095 international students. Out of the two lakh are Indian students. Due to this, India is second, after China, in terms of the student population in the USA.

However, the rising issues of shooting and violence against students are a deep concern for those planning to study abroad in the USA and for the US government.

When asked about the protection of students due to the upsurge in shooting incidents in the USA, Anthony said they are concerned about the safety of students, and there are all sorts of procedures and systems in place.

Addressing the issue, Anthony says the government is always concerned with the security of all our students, whether American or international students. The safety of students is a prime consideration of universities. That's why there are numerous options under all kinds of procedures where students can warn the management about anything wrong or suspicious.

Last year noticed an influx of 1,67,582 Indian students to the USA. Most students pursued higher education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. In addition to these mainstream areas, many students also opted for other fields of study, such as business and management, education, and social sciences.

Since 1919, the annual statistical survey is carried out by IIE in the USA. The institution started conducting it in partnership with the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in 1972. Along with showing the number of international students in the USA, Open Doors also informs on the international scholars at US universities.