Click to play videoNew Delhi: The spate of attacks on Indians in Australia is taking a toll on aspiring students who want to go Down Under.
A B Com graduate from Bareilly, Mansi Sharma has been dreaming of an MBA degree from Australia. Mansi is busy visiting education consultants to find out details about management courses. She is aware of the racist attacks in Australia, but dismisses them as a one-off case.
"I don't think they are really going to affect my decision because these are just three-four random attacks and it doesn't mean that the entire community is under attack. It can happen anywhere. It will not hamper my decision to study in Australia," says Mansi Sharma
Unfortunately, her parents don't share the same confidence.
"Initially we were planning to send her to Australia for further studies, but now we have changed our mind as so many brutal attacks have happened. So now I think it is not safe for my children," says her mother Mukta Sharma.
Australia has been an attractive destination for students for decades.
More than 50,000 students visit Australia every year for studies out of which more than 30,000 students are from India.
IT and MBA are the most sought after courses but a large number of Indians also go in for professional courses like cookery and hair-styling.
"The number of students going to Australia is much higher as compared to UK or US because its much easier to find a job there," says Garima Gupta of ACE Consultancy.
Australia's education industry is a multi-billion dollar business and the growing cases of racism against Indian students have left the education consultants worried.
"It will to a certain extent definitely hamper the inflow of students going to Australia," adds Gupta.
Even as thousands like Mansi weave their dreams of further education in Australia, the land of Oz is fast losing its magic.
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