MBA Aspirants Turn East as Western Business Schools Face Decline in Applications

1. The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which runs the GMAT exam, says that the latest Application Trends Survey shows that global trends in graduate management education are changing. Applications to business schools in traditional markets like the US, Canada, and the UK are going down, but programs in India and Asia are growing quickly. The survey showed that U.S. business schools saw a 1% drop in total applications, with almost half of all programs (49%) saying they had fewer applicants. International applications to American programs also dropped by 3%, which shows that fewer people from other countries are interested in studying in the U.S. The business education sector in Canada has seen an even bigger drop, with 84% of programs reporting fewer applications, including a 49% drop in interest from international students. The same thing happened in the UK, where about two-thirds of programs reported drops and applications from students from other countries fell by 5%. India, on the other hand, has become a strong player in the global business education scene. Graduate Management Admission Council said that 73% of Indian graduate management programs grew, and the number of international applications went up by 26%. East and Southeast Asia also saw a 42% rise, while business programs in other parts of Asia (not including India and China) saw a 10% rise. There was also some

2. growth in Europe, not including the UK. Applications from international candidates went up by 9%. Experts in education say that this change in location shows how students are reevaluating the benefits and availability of studying abroad as the world changes. Namita Mehta, president of The Red Pen, told The PIE News,"Given the current geopolitical climate, we are seeing MBA applicants think more carefully about their options, especially since it costs a lot of money." She went on to say that applicants now expect international MBA programs of Graduate Management Admission Council to offer clear job options after graduation and the ability to move around the world. She said, "This year, international applicants are asking more specific questions about how schools will help them with their careers after graduation and if they will have access to a wide range of job opportunities in different regions." Also Read :- Education Excellence Magazine