Author: Neel Achary

Global ambitions, local beginnings: South Asian students rethink the route to international careers

Aug 24: South Asian students remain ambitious about global careers, but the route they are taking to get there is changing.

Findings from the Cambridge University Press Assessment Destination Survey 2025–26 suggest a growing preference for a more strategic higher education journey: undergraduate study closer to home, followed by international postgraduate education and global career opportunities.

The shift has increasingly been seen in India and Bangladesh, with many schools reporting that a majority of learners are choosing local universities before pursuing international postgraduate education.

WHAT IS DRIVING THE CHANGE?

• Across South Asia, technology-led careers are rising in popularity, while business & management studies are popular subjects in India – indicating the flexible and non-conventional choices learners are making
• The international destination map is widening, with Singapore, the UAE, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Japan and South Korea increasingly being considered alongside traditional destinations
• Value is becoming central to decision-making, with affordability, employability, return on investment and visa certainty influencing destination choices. 

Rod Smith, Group Managing Director, International Education, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, said: “Learners across South Asia remain ambitious about global careers. What is changing is how they achieve those ambitions. More learners are choosing to begin their journey locally, build strong foundations, and pursue international opportunities at the right stage of their education. The rapid growth in interest around AI, computer science and technology-focused careers reinforces the importance of educational pathways that develop critical thinking, problem-solving and adaptability alongside subject knowledge.”

Vinay Sharma, Regional Director – International Education, South Asia, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, said: “The survey findings are reflected in the choices we are seeing among Cambridge learners in India. Through both our March and June series results, we are seeing increasing numbers of students choosing to pursue their undergraduate education in India, while keeping international postgraduate opportunities firmly in view. This shift is being driven by a combination of factors, including greater alignment of Cambridge qualifications with competitive examinations such as JEE and NEET, and also structured to India’s university admissions cycle. Importantly, the survey shows that this is not unique to India. Globally, more students are choosing to begin their higher education journey in their home country before seeking international exposure at the postgraduate level, reflecting a more strategic and value-conscious approach to educational planning.”

India: A Market Transformation

The survey suggests growing demand for India’s higher education ecosystem that includes many global universities opening campuses in India. Several schools reported that between 70% and 90% of their learners are now choosing Indian universities for undergraduate education, supported by stronger domestic options, emerging private universities, international collaborations and expanding skilling opportunities.

There is a widespread belief that students from international curricula face lower acceptance rates at Indian institutions or are more likely to head overseas. The data tells a different story. A significant proportion of Cambridge graduates are successfully securing admissions to leading Indian universities, demonstrating increasing recognition and acceptance of international qualifications by the domestic higher education sector.

Bangladesh: Balancing Global Aspirations and Affordability

Bangladesh continues to demonstrate strong interest in international education, as learners and families are becoming increasingly selective in their choices. Survey respondents cited rising tuition and living costs, reduced scholarship opportunities, visa challenges and post-study work uncertainties as key factors influencing decisions. At the same time, progression towards domestic universities is an outcome of a desire to reduce overall education costs, leading more learners to consider completing undergraduate studies locally before pursuing postgraduate qualifications overseas 

Nepal: Growing Interest in Flexible Global Pathways

Learners in Nepal continue to demonstrate strong international aspirations, particularly towards destinations that offer quality education, scholarship opportunities and post-study career pathways. The survey suggests that affordability and return on investment are becoming increasingly important considerations, leading learners to explore a broader range of destination countries and progression routes. There is also growing interest in pathways that provide flexibility between local and international higher education opportunities. 

Sri Lanka: Seeking Value, Mobility and Future Skills

Across Sri Lanka, learners remain highly motivated by opportunities for global exposure, international qualifications and enhanced career prospects. However, economic considerations, evolving immigration policies and the availability of regional education options are influencing destination choices. Survey insights point to growing demand for qualifications and pathways that support mobility while equipping learners with future-ready skills in technology, innovation and problem-solving.

Asia Pacific Office Demand Rises 3 percentage YoY in H1 2026; India Leads Regional Demand: Colliers

Bengaluru, Aug 24: Asia Pacific’s 11 key office markets recorded office leasing of 4.6 million sq m in H1 2026, a 3 percentage year‑on‑year increase, anchored by robust Grade A space uptake across major markets including India, Mainland China and Japan, according to Colliers’ Asia Pacific Office Market Insights H1 2026report. India alone accounted for over 70% of total leasing during H1 2026. Within the region, the growth in demand during H1 2026 was strongest in markets such as Hong Kong and Taiwan, reflecting improving business confidence and renewed expansion.

During H1 2026, new supply declined by 37% year-on-year to 3.0 million sq m. New supply was highly concentrated in India and Mainland China, which together accounted for more than 80% of completions.

“India continues to anchor leasing volumes in the APAC office market, underpinned by strong demand fundamentals, including expansion of global capability centers in the country. In fact, India accounted for over two-thirds of the region’s demand and supply during H1 2026. Looking ahead, despite geopolitical uncertainty, skilled talent availability and cost arbitrage are likely to support robust absorption and further strengthen India’s position as a preferred office market in the Asia Pacific region,” said Arpit Mehrotra, Managing Director, Office Services, Colliers India.

“Office demand across key APAC markets remained resilient in H1 2026, with leasing activity reaching 4.6 million sq m (49.5 million sq ft). Despite moderating GDP growth, the region continues to outperform global peers. While elevated inflation levels have prompted central banks to maintain a cautious approach to monetary policy, sustained business confidence continues to underpin occupier demand and investment activity. Looking ahead, renewed expansion plans and a growing preference for high-quality, future-ready workplaces are expected to sustain office space demand in the APAC region, with India continuing to drive leasing volumes over the next few quarters,” said Vimal Nadar, National Director & Head of Research, Colliers India.

Asia Pacific continues to outperform peers and remains a key contributor to global economic expansion, according to the report. The report also notes that the region’s resilient growth outlook and likely stability in interest rates are expected to support business confidence and investment, although geopolitical risks and trade uncertainties remain key factors.

“The APAC office market is entering the second half of 2026 with growing momentum. As occupiers double down on high-quality workplaces to attract talent, drive productivity and support business growth, regional demand is increasingly concentrating in best-in-class assets. Over the next few quarters, supply and demand are expected to remain healthy, supported by strong occupier activity and continued preference for high-quality office assets,”Mike Davis, Colliers Managing Director, Occupier Services, Asia Pacific

Overall, the APAC office market activity is expected to remain strong in H2 2026, supported by continued leasing momentum and business expansion. As demand keeps pace with new supply, vacancy levels are likely to stay stable while rents could be on an upswing in high-activity markets.

Raksha Bandhan Gifting – Gentle Exfoliating Face Scrub By Magical Blends

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MedPlus Recognised as ‘Leading Pharmacy Chain Across India’ at ABP Ananda Swasthya Samman 2026

August 24, 2026: MedPlus Health Services, a leading retail pharma chain in India, has been honoured with the prestigious ‘ABP Ananda Swasthya Samman 2026’ in the category of ‘Leading Pharmacy Chain Across India.’ Mr. Yogesh Babu, National Head – Retail Operations, MedPlus Health Services received the award from Dr. Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay, Cabinet Minister – Dept. Of Health & Family Welfare, West Bengal, Dr. Shankar Ghosh, Cabinet Minister – Dept. of Parliamentary Affairs & the Dept. of Tourism, West Bengal, and Dr. Joydeb Roy, a prominent medical professional in West Bengal, at a glittering award ceremony held in Kolkata.

This recognition marks a significant milestone for MedPlus and reflects the trust it has built among millions of consumers by making medicines and healthcare products accessible, reliable and affordable.

Founded in 2006 by Gangadi Madhukar Reddy, MedPlus has revolutionised the organised retail pharmacy chain segment in India, with a focus on providing branded and quality medicines at affordable costs. The company played a pioneered bringing discounts on branded medicines to customers, introducing a 10% discount in 2006. Today, MedPlus offers discounts of 50-80% on its private-label products and 20% on other branded medicines, helping consumers access quality healthcare products at competitive prices.

MedPlus currently operates more than 5,500 stores across 10 states, including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

Commenting on the recognition, Mr. Yogesh Babu, National Head – Retail Operations – MedPlus Health Services, said, “We are firmly committed to serving our customers with the finest quality medicines at affordable prices. This recognition from ABP Ananda reinforces our commitment to making quality healthcare more accessible to consumers across the country.”

“Being recognised by a respected institution such as ABP Ananda is a matter of pride for the entire MedPlus family. The award is not just a recognition of the organisation, but also of the thousands of colleagues at MedPlus, who work every day across our stores and operations to serve customers with quality, value and trusted care,” he added.

ABP Ananda Swasthya Samman is a platform that recognises and celebrates organisations, healthcare professionals, and institutions making a meaningful contribution to the healthcare ecosystem. The awards acknowledge excellence, leadership and innovation across different segments of healthcare and bring together leading names contributing to a healthier India.