Kerala Sees Surge in Students Returning from Abroad Amid Visa, Job Challenges

Kerala has seen a surge in students returning from abroad due to various reasons. According to a report by LinkedIn, the state's professional talent pool has grown by 172% over the last five years.

A growing number of Malayali students are now returning with stories that sharply contrast with their initial expectations. The main reasons for this reverse migration include changing immigration policies, geopolitical conflicts, unrealistic promises made by education agencies, mounting education loans, and loneliness.

Kishore, a 25-year-old from Thrissur, was one of the returnees. He had financed his studies in the UK with a loan from a local cooperative bank but found it difficult to secure a job after completing his course due to changing immigration rules. He eventually returned to Kerala and secured a job at a US-based pharmaceutical company.

Karun Santhosh, who moved to the UK for a one-year master's course, also faced similar challenges. He had hoped to build a career in the UK but was unable to do so due to changing immigration rules. Many of his friends have already returned to Kerala while others are searching for jobs in Gulf countries.

The state government has acknowledged that reverse migration is a significant issue and plans to take legal action against fraudulent student recruitment agencies. The government also aims to regulate these agencies and examine whether new legislation is needed to do so.