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Eco-education is not a trend—it's tomorrow.

As the world's increasing climate problems loom in the horizon, students are gearing up for green careers—and colleges are in a frantic race to catch up, says climate journalist Nibedita Speaks

As the green economy transition begins globally, universities are rising to equip the next generations with the skills and expertise required to create an environmentally sustainable world. From the best global universities to India's leading R&D centers, education based on sustainability is not a niche anymore—it's a necessity.

It is very visible in India. Being one of the world's growth economies with an enormous population of youths, it is positioning itself as a global leader in green jobs and sustainable innovation. Its hallmark economic sectors such as automobiles, energy, manufacturing, tech, and agriculture are also transforming into low-carbon models and need corresponding skills to bridge the gap.

"India can generate nearly 35 million green jobs by 2047," is the opinion of Ankit Tulsyan, Director – Government & Public Sector, EY LLP, and TERI School of Advanced Studies alumnus. "Majority of this will be led by sectors like energy, technology, and agriculture in a strategic manner. Universities have to get ready in no time."

Institutions such as the TERI School of Advanced Studies, the IITs, and the IIMs are at the forefront with inter-disciplinary courses that combine environmental science, policy, business, and technology. These courses prepare students not only for job placement, but leadership in creating a sustainable world economy.

Scholarship, according to experts, needs to be agile and industry-focused. The phenomenon of ecologically friendly solutions across the world's supply chain is nudging companies to seek graduates with practical, solution-based education in sustainability. It is this intersection of learning, innovation, and industry imperatives that is redrawing the map of being career-fit in the 21st century.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has moved to provide unconditional admission to international students studying at Harvard University, after a contentious action by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to strip the institution of its certification to host foreign students.

HKUST made the announcement as means to "ensure a smooth transition" for students impacted by the U.S. move, one which Harvard has asserted will disrupt the academic lives of thousands. The university stressed its doors remain open to students now in limbo regarding their legal status and academic continuity in the United States.

The Chinese university's invitation arrives amid increased political tensions between Harvard and the U.S. government. DHS has charged that the Ivy League university refused to act on suspected campus safety issues and alleged Chinese Communist Party ties. Harvard, in turn, has filed a federal lawsuit, labeling the government's response "clear retaliation" for its refusal to bend to federal pressure to roll back diversity policies and pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

More than 1,000 Chinese students, according to reports, are enrolled at Harvard, and more than 7,000 international students in total could be affected. The university says the federal action is a violation of constitutional protections and will have an "immediate and devastating effect" on its worldwide academic community.

In a dramatic turn of events, one of America's federal judges yesterday temporarily halted the government from imposing the order of revocation, providing Harvard and its students with relief. But uncertainty looms, and institutions such as HKUST are now intervening to provide an alternative pathway for displaced scholars.

Harvard has also filed a lawsuit to challenge the U.S. government's move to reduce more than $2 billion in federal funding, which it says puts at risk important research programs and academic initiatives.

Notably, Harvard and its students were given a reprieve by a U.S. federal judge on Friday as they were temporarily blocked from enforcing the revocation order.  But there is still uncertainty, thus organizations such as HKUST are now bridging the gap by offering displaced scholars an alternate way.

Furthermore, Harvard has also sued to challenge the U.S. government's move to cut more than $2 billion in federal funding, citing that this threatens vital academic programs and research initiatives.

International students at Harvard are really feeling the heat right now. A federal judge did step in to pause President Trump's controversial plan to cut the university's ability to enroll them, which is a bit of a relief. But honestly? Many students are still living in what they call “pure panic.”

Take Abdullah Shahid Sial, for instance. He’s co-president of the student body and hails from Lahore, Pakistan. He shared with CNN that many of his fellow students are “very clearly, extremely afraid” about their legal status. “They’re just kids, really—teenagers, thousands of miles from home—facing a situation that even lawyers find daunting,” he said. I mean, that really puts things into perspective, doesn’t it?

Sial is urging the university to step in and help those who might have to transfer to other schools, even suggesting that financial aid should be able to follow those students. But here’s the rub: most colleges have already closed their transfer admissions for the fall semester. And he’s stuck overseas, which adds a whole other layer of stress. Can you imagine not knowing if you’ll even get to go back to campus?

“Harvard is Harvard because it attracts the best minds from around the globe, not just from the US,” Sial pointed out. “And honestly, the US gains so much from having such talent here. But now, they’re just being dehumanized and disrespected.” It’s really heartbreaking.

He also mentioned that the administration and deans have been pretty supportive during this chaotic time, especially with finals wrapping up and graduation just around the corner. But let’s be real—the whole situation is super tense.

Then there’s this new directive from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that could affect over 7,000 students—about 27% of the whole student body—who might have to transfer or risk losing their legal status. Kristi Noem, the Secretary, said they need to make the transfer before the 2025-2026 school year, or things could get serious for them.

Even though a judge has temporarily blocked the administration’s order, Harvard sees this as a clear case of “retaliation” for not following the government’s politically charged requests. They argue that losing their certification would have a “devastating effect” on the community and on the thousands of international students who are crucial to its mission.

Karl Molden, an Austrian student, described this whole mess as being “a pawn in a larger fight between democracy and authoritarianism.” Like Sial, he’s stuck abroad, wondering when he’ll be able to return.

And then there’s Jared, an 18-year-old from New Zealand who just got accepted to Harvard. He said hearing the news felt like a “heart drop” moment. He was in the middle of getting his student visa and planning his move to Boston when everything turned upside down.

Reports indicate that around 788 Indian students might be in a tough spot because of this policy—they could have to transfer or face deportation. On the bright side, those graduating this semester will still get to walk across that stage.

All this is happening against a backdrop of rising tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard. Earlier this year, the university stood firm against federal demands to limit pro-Palestinian protests and to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Because of that, several federal agencies have cut funding, which has impacted research programs at the university. Harvard even filed a lawsuit over $2 billion in funding cuts.

Noem has accused Harvard of not providing records on foreign students, claiming the university has created an unsafe environment for Jewish students and has ties to controversial groups. In response, Harvard President Alan Garber stated they're committed to combating antisemitism and have rolled out new governance policies, but they won’t back down on their core principles, no matter what happens.

Now, the DHS is demanding that Harvard submit various forms of documentation about foreign students involved in protests or any activities deemed “dangerous” on campus in just 72 hours to regain its certification. That’s a lot for students to deal with, and honestly, the uncertainty is really weighing heavily on them.

In a major shift for US education policy, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on May 20, 2025, released her initial round of proposed priorities for discretionary grants from the US Department of Education. The new priorities indicate a departure from the priorities of the prior administration and are the fastest release of grant priorities by any education secretary during an administration's first year.

The three priority areas are evidence-based literacy, expanding education choice, and returning control of education to the states. These are expected to guide future competitive grants by the Department and influence how billions of dollars of federal funds will be allocated to states, districts, and education providers.

One of the main pillars of Secretary McMahon's agenda is evidence-based literacy. This initiative seeks to move literacy education forward in line with the science of reading. The Department has stated that this includes empirically grounded instruction practices grounded in phonological awareness, phonic decoding, vocabulary development, fluency, and reading comprehension. The aim is to reverse plummeting reading scores across the country by emphasizing direct, systematic, and explicit research-based instruction.

By targeting literacy strategies that have been successful in the past, the Department wants to ensure that students nationwide are given a foundation to excel in school. "It is essential that we act immediately about this year's dismal reading and math test scores by going back to fundamentals," McMahon said.

The second priority that is unveiled is expanded education choice. This includes charterschool funding, open enrollment policies, and broad alternative educational choices. The Department's blueprint offers a "menu" of choices tailored to different grant programs, such as education savings accounts (ESAs), home schooling, concurrent enrollment programs, postsecondary distance learning, apprenticeships, and tutoring.

The goal is to empower families with more options and to encourage new school designs that respond to various students' needs. McMahon emphasized that future grants will reward those programs that raise the level of access and flexibility for students.

The third and most general priority is to return more control of education to the states. This will provide state governments with greater capacity to implement and manage education programs, especially where they are eligible grant recipients or can serve as endorsing agencies. The Department sees this as a means of reducing federal administrative burdens and making education strategy more locally responsive.

"Equity as a priority will have the broadest applicability to grant programs," the Department said. It seeks to rethink how federal education programs operate, so that it makes decisions in proximity to the communities it serves.

Secretary McMahon's Supplemental Priorities were published in the Federal Register for public comment for 30 days as of May 20, 2025. After consideration and comment on public comments, the Department will publish a Notice of Final Priorities (NFP) to make them final.

McMahon confirmed that there are also other priorities that will be presented later this year.

In a big move to support Indian students overseas, Indian insurance firms have introduced travel insurance that offers protection against visa cancellation, loss of job, and unexpected emergencies. The insurance is aimed at safeguarding students financially and providing them with peace of mind as they navigate foreign education, reports The Times of India.

Indian insurers have launched student-specific travel insurance policies covering risks such as visa cancellation and unemployment upon study, providing an economic and comprehensive safety net for foreign students.

As increasing numbers of Indian students make a trip abroad for higher education in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, there is growing demand for robust insurance coverage. Traditional international insurance policies are typically pricey and not tailor-made for Indian students. Seeing this gap, Indian insurance companies have joined the race with superior, flexible, and competitive coverages.

Such fresh policy coverages extend beyond ordinary general medical cover, TOI reported. They even cover cases of visa denial, cancellation, and job loss after graduation. Some policies also offer coverage for paying accommodation fees and repatriation costs should a student need to leave the host country in urgency. The introduction of these aspects has been driven by the growing numbers of students whose studies have been disrupted due to policy adjustments and global uncertainties.

Radhika Saran, a 22-year-old student who is studying in Ireland now, talked about her experience with The Times of India, "My medical expenses were all settled, and the settlement process was trouble-free. My policy is much cheaper compared to the global insurances you find here. I purchased a flexible policy and opted for add-ons like access to an emergency fund as well."

Indian policies are another huge advantage in terms of cost-effectiveness. Industry estimates say the price of an Indian student travel insurance policy is one-third of what the global versions cost. For example, a $100,000 health insurance policy purchased abroad would cost significantly more than a similar policy from an Indian insurer.

Kapadia, the head of travel insurance at policybazaar, noticed the rising trend, "At Policybazaar, we've seen much more students and parents taking plans with coverage ranging between $100,000 to $500,000, and in some cases even up to $1 million. That is a pretty new shift from earlier times when students were happy with minimum basic mandatory coverage.".

Insurers such as Bajaj Allianz General Insurance and ICICI Lombard have witnessed an increase in students buying domestic insurance with extended coverage options from the usual basic policies. Aashish Sethi of Bajaj Allianz explained, " Several students are opting for value-added plans with greater medical cover, trip cancellation benefit, and emergency evacuation. Students typically opt for sum insured between 1 to 2 lakh under coverage plans.". But when students take loans for education, the majority of the loan-giving institutions recommend opting for plans with a larger sum insured.

Priya Deshmukh, head of ICICI Lombard's health products, operations and services, added further, "Students can opt for add-on covers such as maternity, cancer screening, alcoholism and drug dependency treatment, and medical coverage for inter-collegiate injuries in 'Plus' plans."

However, aside from the cost advantage and other features, foreign providers' university-recommended insurance remains the choice of some students due to easier claim settlement in the host nation. ForeignAdmits founder Nikhil Jain explained, "For US study, students are opting for insurance policies that cover visa revocation support and unemployment support.". They are also actively looking for assist covers which come handy in case there is a cancellation of the visa etc. Indian insurers are going through extremely rough times comparing themselves with international players on the basis of what they offer and the services."

To have equilibrium, education counselors recommend a hybrid plan. Dilip Oak, founder of an overseas education consultancy in Pune, told TOI, "We have a large number of students going to the US, and if they take a policy that is recommended by their university, then settling too becomes convenient. Indian insurers are offering all kinds of discounts to students."

As more Indian students go abroad, the insurance industry is responding to their needs with appropriate and affordable options. The new products will be part of student planning, reducing the cost involved in going abroad for education.

There was a record turnout of India students for Cambridge University Press & Assessment exams during March since it falls in alignment with the Indian academic calendar. India students also get an opportunity to sit for exams during the June & Nov series.

The results of the March series exams were declared on Wednesday across more than 420 schools and more than 17,000 students. Nearly 85,000 exam entries (total subject papers by total students) were noted, an increase of 11% over last year. Cambridge IGCSE (equivalent to Class 10) entries increased by 12% to reach the 62,000-level, while the AS & A level cohort (Classes 11 and 12 equivalent) increased 10% to more than 20,000 entries. There are nearly 120 CIE schools in Mumbai and 180 in Maharashtra.

Four students from Rustomjee Cambridge International Schools featured among world toppers with 100/100 marks in individual subjects: Dhruv Gambhire (mathematics) and Adit Telang (second language English) from Dahisar campus; Reva Vikas Hiran (mathematics) from Virar and Mukta Gautam (second language English) from Thane campus.

Debika Chatterji, principal director of JBCN International School, Borivli, indicated the school has two subject leaders achieving 100/100 in extended maths, with "more to come as we wait for the rest of the results from the May-June exam series."

"These were very diverse. Last year we had three world toppers, this year we have none. None of them managed 100, but all of them performed very well. There are two students who have 7A* and one 7," said Hema Doshi, director, Ajmera Global Schools. At Billabong High International School, Mulund, Aagam Malde won the exceptional Cambridge Learner Award, with a perfect 100 in chemistry in class 10.".

Maths, physics and chemistry remain the favorite among Indian students, "highlighting an enduring preference for STEM subjects", stated a Cambridge release. "Cambridge IGCSE biology is seen growing in popularity, with 16% more entries this year compared to the previous year. This indicates an expanding interest within the field of STEM and increased awareness of the relevance of biological sciences among Indian students."

Entries for exams also reflect a greater emphasis on acquiring skills for the future, with a 24% growth in entries for Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives. "By challenging students with some of the most significant issues facing the world at present, Cambridge Global Perspectives fosters critical thinking, research and collaborative problem-solving skills that are essential to success in a fast-changing global world," said the release.

Statistics indicate that economics and business are in equally strong positions in Cambridge International AS & A level, coming fourth and fifth, respectively, indicating a keen interest in learning about the "dynamics of the global economy.".