NISAU in the News
Indian student delegates at UK Parliament sign MOU for progressive, inclusive, sustainable economy
The oldest and one of the largest student bodies in the United Kingdom, the National Indian Students Alumni Union was recently invited to represent India at the inaugural British South Asian Youth Summit held virtually at the British Parliament. The youth of the UK and the South Asian nations signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding at the Summit after discussions on methods to foster understanding and cooperation between the nations.
The delegation from India was led by Sanam Arora, the Chairperson of the NISAU and she was accompanied by Mohanish Borana, the President, Vignesh Karthik, Head of Thought Leadership, Prachi Dang, the Head of Strategic Communication and Jetal Zala, NISAU Sustainability Lead. The session was chaired by Virendra Sharma, Member of UK Parliament and a member of the House of Commons International Development Select Committee. The British Council and the High Commission of India in London besides other political institutions, third sector organisations across the Asian continent and the UK supported the summit. The other countries that were represented were Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, India and Pakistan.
Date: 27 August 2020
Visas granted to Indian students to study in UK more than doubles
The National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU-UK) had conducted a survey of Indian students to assess the impact of the lockdown on the higher education sector and found that nearly half of Indian students with an admission offer to a UK university from September 2020 were unsure whether to accept.
However, 45 per cent had accepted their offers and intended to carry on with their education in the UK as planned and only 5 per cent chose to defer their offers to the next academic year.
The findings coincide with those of the UK''s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), which found that amid an overall spike in university applications for the year, most applicants from India were planning to start a course from the autumn semester, which begins next month.
Date: 27 August 2020
UK group warns against dubious agents, hosts live session for Indian students
The National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU-UK) said its "#AskNISAU" session over the weekend attracted a virtual audience of over 2,000 prospective students, with queries ranging from job prospects to the coronavirus lockdown impact on UK universities.
Students have increasingly been complaining about receiving misleading/biased information from educational agents, a sector that remains unregulated in India. Notably, NISAU had previously called on the Indian government to appropriately regulate this sector,” the group said in a statement.
“To address students’ ambiguities and apprehensions with credible information in an unbiased manner, NISAU organised the UK’s first-ever session where current students, recent graduates and domain experts responded to students’ queries live in a virtual #AskNISAU session broadcast live on Facebook and Instagram,” it said.
Date: 3 August 2020
International graduate business start-ups in UK highlight opportunities for Indian students, graduates: Report
The most common nationality of the overseas student involved in UK university start-ups is Chinese, but there is a growing focus on entrepreneurship from other nations, in particular from India. As the National Indian Students and Alumni Union notes “a new chapter in the U.K. – India ties” with Indian students and British Higher Education forming the key pillar of this bilateral relationship in “a partnership going from strength to strength.”
Date: 17 August 2020
UK: 5% of Indian students may defer – survey
NISAU’s research was done to show what the impact of Covid-19 has been on Indian students and how it might affect their decisions around coming to the UK to study. The survey was conducted in early June and received 313 responses from Indian students across 20 States and UTs in India. Other key findings were that 80% of respondents said they would not accept their offer if learning for the entire next year moved online.
Date: 10 July 2020
Dilemma behind opting for Ivy League schools in COVID-19 times
"We recently surveyed prospective Indian students holding offers from British Universities for the September 2020 intake. The message is very clear Indian students wish to continue to come to the UK but certain requirements must be met," said Sanam Arora, chairperson of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU-UK).
"Students want the British classroom experience and access to university infrastructure such as research labs. Eighty per cent of respondents said they would not accept their offer if learning for the entire next year moved online. However, this number reduces to around 55 per cent if there is an initial period of online learning followed by on-campus teaching, and crucially, if the fees are accordingly discounted," she added.
Date: 7 July 2020
Gandhi statue now in firing line as "topple the racist statue" campaign gains ground
Sanam Arora, chairperson of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union, said such ill-informed actions "weakened the BLM movement."
Date: 12 June 2020
UK: Indian students made homeless
A ‘worryingly’ large number of Indian students stranded in the UK are being made homeless because they cannot pay rent to private landlords.
Date: 22 May 2020
UK: Indian gov schedules flights for students
Mohanish Borana, president of National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK – a student organisation which has been working in the UK since 2012 – said a large number of Indian students had become stranded in the UK due to the pandemic.
“Many are facing financial difficulties in managing their emergency expenses due to the subsequent loss of part-time jobs,” he explained.
NISAU has been communicating with thousands of students, and the organisation has helped many hundreds of students who said they could not afford food, he added.
Date: 7 May 2020
Indian students trapped in UK by coronavirus 'actually starving'
The National Indian Students and Alumni Union says it has received thousands of queries from anxious students “trapped” across the UK, hundreds of whom say they do not have enough to eat. Sanam Arora, NISAU’s chairwoman, says: “A lot of students rely on part-time jobs, and now they have lost them they can’t pay their rent or buy food.” She says there is an atmosphere of panic: “The mental health issues are just flabbergasting. Some students have even threatened suicide.”
Date: 1 May 2020
Rising requests to GoI by Indian students in UK for travel arrangements
National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU) and the High Commission of India are working tirelessly to help and support Indians stranded in the UK and provide any possible assistance. NISAU has arranged several webinars and interactive sessions over Zoom and HouseParty app to help students in isolation. HCI has requested Indians whose visa is expiring to fill the form for an extension till 31 May, 2020.
Date: 12 April 2020
Coronavirus: Indian students stranded in UK urge Modi for rescue flight
The NISAU-UK has launched a new Home Away From Home virtual initiative targeted at this group of Indians, who find themselves stranded in the UK as a result of the lockdowns in both the countries. "These are testing times for all, and we understand just how difficult it is for students in particular to be away from their families right now, as most of our volunteers are going through the same," said a NISAU-UK spokesperson.
"There are a series of activities planned, ranging from Netflix parties to webinars to career development and sessions from stand-up comics. We have extended this initiative to all Indians, no matter where in the world you are – NISAU has got your back," the spokesperson said.
Date: 29 March 2020
Indian students in UK demand to be sent back despite travel restrictions due to coronavirus
The National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU-UK), a representative body for Indian students in the UK, has been fielding calls and urging students not to panic, support each other and take necessary precautions to be safe. As the UK went into complete shutdown from Saturday, universities across the UK have said they are mindful of the plight of international students, many of whom have nowhere to go as campuses close down.
Date: 22 March 2020
Coronavirus | Indian students seek refuge within U.K. mission premises
The National Indian Students and Alumni Union U.K. (NISAU-UK), a representative body for Indian students in the U.K., has been fielding calls and urging students not to panic, support each other and take necessary precautions to be safe. As the U.K. went into complete shutdown from Saturday, universities across the U.K. have said they are mindful of the plight of international students, many of whom have nowhere to go as campuses close down.
Date: 22 March 2020
NISAU working with Indian embassy to help students stranded in UK lockdown due to coronavirus
With thousands of Indian students stranded in the UK with lockdown and travel disruption in both the countries following the coronavirus pandemic, National Indian Students and Alumni Union in UK (NISAU) is one of the organisations that is working with the Indian high commission in London to help them.
Date: 30 March 2020
Indian industry, students welcome UK’s new points-based visa system
The National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU), which actively lobbied the government on a fairer visa regime that offers international students the chance to gain some work experience at the end of their degrees, believes the new changes are a step in the right direction.
Date: 20 February 2020
Indian student body launches campaign to ensure all students are offered UK post-study work visa
The National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU-UK) said, plans to make the new Graduate Visa route, announced by the UK government last week, valid from the 2020-21 cohort of students had caused 'significant unrest and confusion' among students in the process of beginning the 2019-20 academic year this month. "We strongly recommend that international students with valid Tier 4 student leave at the point of announcement of the scheme i.e. on September 10, 2019, and afterward, be eligible for the Graduate visa, noted the NISAU UK's letter issued to Downing Street on Sunday.
Date: 16 September 2019
Bramha Kumari Shivani shares insights into spirituality and leadership for young Indian leaders in UK
Commemorating the spirit of International Yoga Day on 21 June, NISAU welcomed spiritual leader BK Shivani to talk about the meaning of leadership, success and spirituality. Advisor to the Chief Minister of Delhi Mr Gopal Mohan, hospitality magnet Mr Ramesh Arora, the European Director of the Bramha Kumaris, Sister Jayanti and other dignitaries graced the event which also saw participation from student and youth leaders from all over the UK.
Date: 26 June 2019
UK to see more inflow of Indian students
According to data available with the Higher Education Statistics Agency of the UK, the number of students going to the UK jumped by 6.9% to 9,720 in 2016-17, after the country voted in favour of leaving the European Union on June 23, 2016. Prior to that, the number of Indian students travelling to the UK for higher education was on a decline. “There is an element of excitement among the Indian students because of Brexit as they think it will create a level playing field in terms of the immigration,” Sanam Arora, Chairperson, National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU-UK) told DH.
Date: 18 January 2019
International students threatened with deportation in fake Home Office scam
Fraudsters posing as Home Office officials or as the police have been targeting international students and threatening to deport them unless they pay money upfront. National organisations have issued urgent advice to help international students – who come from non-EU countries like India and China – to avoid falling victim to a recent phone scam.
Date: 26 August 2018
NISAU is campaigning for the UK to become the destination of choice for Indian students again.
Indian students have been welcomed by Australia, and more so aggressively ever since the UK over the last 5 years has been consistently sending confusing messages out. It is unfortunate but despite lacking an education system that is as good as UKs, Australia has been successful in attracting a much more significant base of Indian students because their actions match their words, which isnt the case in the UK.
Date: 21 July 2018
The National Indian Students & Alumni Union UK Bestows Honorary Fellowship on Swami Ramdev
During the ongoing UK tour, promoted by Incredible India, Ramdev was also awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the National Indian Students & Alumni Union UK (NISAU-UK) for his contribution to the world through Yoga and Indian Traditional Sciences.
Date: 24 June 2018
NISAU proud to host role model Swami Ramdev for a Youth Leadership Conclave
NISAU UK said Ramdev had been chosen because he is a great role model for youngsters and his story and achievements are extremely inspiring. Upon receiving the Fellowship, Ramdev said: The truth is that to be a good leader, you have to have passion. For a good organisation to work, you have to have a leader who has the quality to be in charge. I can see NISAU is working so well because of its leadership.
Date: 24 June 2018
Swami Ramdev met a select audience of young students and achievers to discuss leadership
Ramdev is in the UK to conduct a series of yoga sessions in London, Coventry and Glasgow. But, before that he met a select audience of young students and achievers to discuss leadership - balancing mind, body and soul at an event organised by National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) where he was awarded an honorary fellowship by Virendra Sharma,Member of Parliament of Indian origin in the UK.
Date: 24 June 2018
NISAU Hosts the first ever UK-India Youth Leadership Conclave with Swami Ramdev
Ramdev joins other Honorary Fellows such as humanitarian Sri Sri Ravi Shankar; Indian cinema personality and social activist Shabana Azmi, Rajya Sabha MP and Indian cinema personality Javed Akhtar and Former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Dr S Y Quraishi. Upon receiving the Fellowship, Ramdev said: "The truth is that to be a good leader, you have to have passion. For a good organisation to work, you have to have a leader who has the quality to be in charge. I can see NISAU is working so well because of its leadership.
Date: 24 June 2018
NISAU Welcome's home secretaries re-think immigration policies for Indian Students
UK university bodies, students, doctors and Indian industry have welcomed new UK home secretary Sajid Javid's announcement that there will be a rethink of key aspects of Britain's immigration policy on foreign students as well as the cap on tier 2 visa holders, which affects doctors. Sanam Arora, founder and chairperson, National Indian Students & Alumni Union (NISAU), UK, said on Monday she was heartened the "long-overdue review of immigration" was taking place. "A lot of damage has been done to the UK's reputation as the destination of choice for Indian students over the last few years.
Date: 4 June 2018
NISAU Comments on a post-colonial reckoning
The National Indian Students and Alumni Union U.K., which has been campaigning on behalf students who have faced accusations of fraud believes a significant population from India has been impacted. Our strong suspicion is that thousands could have been wrongly deported or facing difficulties. The governments deport first, appeal later strategy, which came into effect around the time students began to face these difficulties, meant there was little recourse open to the students.
Date: 5 May 2018