First it was the UK and the US. Scholarships were plenty, admission processes were liberal and there was a plethora of opportunities to overstay and get eventually regularized.
Then Australia entered the game. This time it was to make money for the educational institutions which needed funds to expand their faculties. Indian students were happy to oblige. They got a foreign degree, albeit at a much higher price and that helped job prospects back home. The ones who outdid in their studies got into the immigration system. After all which country doesn’t want new blood, youth educated at their own expense and clever ones at that. Then racism in Australia got the Indians infuriated. At the same time Canada muscled onto the turf. Tuition fees were much lower than the southern neighbour, no racism, a big Indian population in the cities to befriend and here’s the big draw - studies followed by work permit, followed by permanent residence. Which intending young man or woman could ask for more. Meanwhile the Canadian governments saw this to their advantage. They decreased their funding to the post secondary schools which became overly dependent on this source of funding. Here’s that story. The government has concerns over Ontario colleges' reliance on international student tuition. https://www.blogto.com/city/2021/12/government-concerns-ontario-colleges-reliance-international-student-tuition/ Roland. Toronto.
