A surge in the number of international students arriving at the University of Illinois in recent years has prompted the university to open a liaison office in Bengaluru and New Delhi by 2022.
A spokesperson of the university said that in fall 2020, a total of 2,848 international students from India came to study in the U. of I. system including Springfield, Chicago and Urbana-Champaign, with the highest number - 1,801 - in Urbana-Champaign.
Out of the total student population of 90,343, 13,878 were international students, amounting to 15.4% throughout the U. of I. System last fall, he added.
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China was the largest international student source, with 5,836 students enrolled in fall 2020.
EStimated expenses for international students attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for the 2021-22 academic year ranges from $35,206 to $44,758; $16,866-$21,960 for Illinois students and $34,316-$39,410 for nonresidents.
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Last month, the board of trustees of the university voted to set up a branch office in Bengaluru and a U. of I. system liaison office in New Delhi. This would be aimed at developing relationships with both corporate and academic partners and alumni in India and to support student recruitment.
India is the second leading country of origin of international students, with home to over 2,200 alumni as well as academic and industry partners, officials mentioned.
The university opened a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaigns office in Shanghai in 2013 and an office in Singapore for U. of I.s Grainger College of Engineering in 2009.
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These offices in India will also act as hubs for university alumni who attended U. of I. and returned to work in India after graduation, said Pradeep Khanna, associate VC for corporate relations and economic development at the university.
In 2018, the university signed agreements for new academic and research partnerships with seven of Indias leading universities and research agencies, said officials.
Source: Chicago Tribune
