COVID-19

Affecting Education Plans

Research by

www.mindler.com
Synopsis
Given the testing times the COVID-19 pandemic has created for all of us, this research was
conducted to understand the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the decisions made by school
students in Grades 11-12, regarding their higher education plans. High School is the time for
students to work on their career road map, and now due to the unforeseen circumstances,
students are facing a dilemma about their respective career journeys.
Given the timing of the lockdown in India, there is a direct impact on school students;
caused by postponement of board exams/ entrance exams/ standardized tests, delay in
college admissions, confusion about admission dates and more! The research focused on
understanding the impact on students and to hear student voices on this matter. This
research has been conducted via an online survey from over 47,560 students across
hundreds of schools in India. Of the students surveyed 56% of the respondents were girls
and 44% were boys.
The class wise sample mix is as follows:

62%
38%
Class
Class XII
XI

Research Methodology
The data collection for this research was conducted using online survey forms that aimed to
understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ career and higher education
choices. This is an ex-post facto research to understand and meet the objectives mentioned
above. Data samples of over 47560 students were evaluated for the purpose of this research
after initial screening of that data captured. Multistage random sampling was used to cover
the entire length and breadth of the country. The questionnaire developed was given to a set
of ten experts dealing in the area of career decision making from industry as well as
government sector. The team of experts evaluated the questionnaire in the light of the
objectives mentioned above.

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Key Highlights
The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has transformed the global higher education
sector. Educational institutions have been taken by surprise, and are facing a challenge ahead
of them. Considering the ongoing scenario, we conducted this research to further understand
the implications this might have on the student career choices, challenges faced by students
and viability of studying abroad.
Some of the key highlights of the research were:

1. COVID-19 will establish a new normal for the higher education sector.
The online teaching landscape is bound to be revolutionized.

2. The way Universities assess and screen applications will see a major change.

3. Crisis management will be observed as a matter of relevance for the Universities

as well as the students.

4. Students who are to enter university in the upcoming fall will have to reconsider their
degree and college options.

5. A decision to study abroad will be brought under scrutiny, like never before.

6. Indian universities will experience an upsurge in applications. Students, who were

previously only applying overseas, will now also apply to several domestic options as
their backups.

7. The students may have to adjust to online alternatives for university entrance exams, as
well as prepare for virtual interviews.

8. Through this study we were also able to identify the kind of activities students were
participating in during the lockdown.

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Segment 1
Impact on
Career Choice

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Insights
Has COVID-19 affected your career plans?

63%
Yes, Absolutely

37%
No, Not Really

With the changing scenario, it is inevitable that students are reconsidering their initial career
plans. The COVID-19 has forced the students to revisit their initial choices, and comprehend
the viability of their decisions due to significant changes caused by delay in board
examinations, postponement of entrance exams and confusion about admission dates. It is
evident from the graph above, that out of the total number of students who participated in this
survey around 63% feel their career plans are being affected.

Has your choice of career domain been affected by

the COVID-19 outbreak?

42%
Yes, I am
58%
No, my choice
reconsidering remains the
my choices same

Given the postponement of board exams and entrance examinations which are the dominant
routes to entry to colleges it is clear that a significant proportion of the students are
reconsidering their choices. As per the study around 58% of the students said their career
domain choice remains the same while 42% are reconsidering their decision. Students are
also considering career backups so that they can have more options to choose from.

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Which career domains are you considering to pursue?
Business Management 22%

Computer Application & IT 18%

Entrepreneurship 17%

Medicine 17%

Design 16%

Engineering 15%

Animation & Graphics 15%

Media & Communication 13%

Economics 13%

Commerce & Accounts 13%

Marketing & Advertising 12%

Social Sciences & Humanities 11%

Law 11%

Allied Medicine 10%

Life Sciences 9%

Finance & Banking 9%

Architecture 9%

Hotel Management 9%

Nutrition & Fitness 8%

Civil Services 8%

Ethical Hacking 8%

Applied Arts 7%

Aviation 6%

Education & Training 6%

Social Services 6%

Defense 6%

Maths & Statistics 6%

Physical Sciences 4%

Food & Agriculture 3%

Actuarial Sciences 3%

Performing Arts 3%

Merchant Navy 2% (The scores represent the popularity of careers amongst students)

Students are exploring multiple career domains, as is evident from the graph. Business
Management, Computer Applications & IT , Entrepreneurship, Medicine and Design seem to
be the most popular career domains.
The average number of Career Options being planned by each student is less than 3 with the
exact average being 2.45.

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Were you planning on studying at a university abroad?

81% No

19% Yes

Out of the students who participated in the survey, 19% of the students were planning to
study abroad before the COVID-19 situation arose. This was found to be in sync with
historical trends of students aiming to study abroad. Section 3 of this study further evaluates
the impact of COVID-19 on students’ plans to study abroad.

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Segment 2
Impact on
Career Decision Making
& Future Planning

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Insights
Are you anxious about the entrance exams to be held for
university admissions?

8%
Not Anxious

92%
Anxious

Every year, state and national level board examinations in India draw to a close by the end of
March. However, a nationwide lockdown has resulted in postponed board exams and
entrance tests. Therefore, students are anxious about managing their remaining board exams
and preparing for various entrance exams. Students who have been preparing for certain
entrances such as JEE, NEET, CLAT, IPM amongst others; are struggling to cope with the
building pressure. 92% of students have expressed their concern, and claim that they are
anxious about the entrance examinations.

Are you okay with the idea of Online Entrance Tests to be conducted
by the universities in India, for admissions?

66% Yes
23%
Sceptical
11% No

With 66% of students showing a positive inclination towards online entrances, this may come
as a relief for the universities; as students largely seem comfortable with the idea of online
evaluations. If universities are able to take their admission processes online, it may not affect
the admissions in a big way.

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Are you okay with the idea of Online Interviews to be conducted by
the universities in India, for admissions?

79%
13%
Yes

Sceptical

8% No

Interviews can be daunting for students, at this young age. Majority of the students have
never been interviewed before, so they can be stressed about how to ace the interviews for
respective universities. Now that universities are considering taking the admission screening
process online, the interviews will be conducted virtually. It is great to see that around 79% of
the students who participated in the survey seem comfortable with online interviews. After all
this is the tech-savvy generation, and are comfortable with the use of technology in every
aspect possible.

As a result of COVID-19, on which of the following would you

require help/ support?
Career guidance 68%
help-line

Guidance on entrance exams 58%

& interview training

Preparing for a 49%

backup college

Deciding on the right 42%

study destination

Scholarships 40%
guidance

University 37%
applications

Finding reliable online 35%

preparation channels

In these unprecedented and uncertain times, students are confused about how to pick a safe
and promising career choice. Thus, a career guidance help-line is the need of the hour. 68% of
the students expressed their interest in having access to a career guidance helpline during
these testing times. Moreover, 58% respondents also expressed their interest in having
access to professional support for interview and entrance examination preparation. Research
also suggested that students intend to seek support for preparing a list of backup colleges and
alternate study destinations.

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 As a student, what challenges are you facing due to the
COVID-19 outbreak?

49%
57% Time 37%
Confusion &
Uncertainty
50% Management 42%
Stress
Distractions
Procrastination
& Lethargy & Anxiety

Students have been more restless than ever, due to the enforced lockdown. Students have
expressed their concern about the confusion & uncertainty (57%), during these uncertain
times. It is essential that students get the necessary guidance on how to contain their anxiety
and rather make the most of this time to improve on their skills or learn a new one.

How are you using your time at home during COVID-19?

69% Spending time

with Family

47% Preparing for

your Exams

42% Online Courses/

Certifications

36% Learning a
New Skill

35% Watching TV/

Gaming

13% Learning a
new Language

A vast number of students (69%) indicated that they are spending more time with their
families. Around 47% students claimed that they have been using this time to prepare for their
entrances, and some of them have taken up online courses through various platforms, to
acquire a certification or work on their skills.

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Segment 3
Impact on
Plans to Study Abroad

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Insights
Are you considering changing your study abroad plans
due to COVID-19?

78% Yes

22% No

Undoubtedly, the ongoing pandemic has triggered scepticism about travelling overseas.
Students, and their parents, are perhaps the most worried about attending an overseas
university in such times. 78% of students who were originally planning on studying at an
overseas university are now likely to change their higher education plans. Thus, the COVID-19
outbreak will, in all likelihood, have a lasting impact on the global higher education landscape.

What changes are you considering in your study abroad plan

due to COVID-19?
(The below analysis represents responses from students who said their career plans are affected)

35%
I am considering 55% 10%
Considering
deferring my offer Wouldn’t be another country
for a year studying overseas
anymore

Majority of the students who were planning on studying abroad are facing a dilemma due to
the current scenario, and around 55% of students claimed that they wouldn’t be studying at a
university abroad any more. Some of the students (35%) are weighing their options, and are
thinking about deferring their offer for a year while remaining (10%) are looking at other
countries as a backup.

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In case you are unable to join an overseas university as you might
have planned, have you prepared for back up options in India?

56%
Yes, I have applied
to Indian Universities
as well

44%
No, I have not
planned a
backup option

The biggest concern arises for those students who were determined on studying at a
university abroad, and did not plan a backup option in India. 44% of the students who
participated in this research, and were considering studying at a university overseas, do not
have a backup university choice in India yet. This puts a lot of pressure on these students,
while creating an opportunity for universities in India to attract these students.

Would you be interested if the universities consider online learning

alternatives due to coronavirus?

42% Yes

23%
Sceptical

35% No

Due to the lockdown enforced in a number of countries around the globe, online education has
finally found its momentum. A vast majority of schools and universities around the world are
taking their classes online, so that the students do not suffer. Even though 42% of students
have claimed that they would be interested in online learning alternatives, there is still a
significant proportion of students who were either sceptical (23%) about the idea, or
outrightly dismissed (35%) the proposition of online alternatives.

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Which country were you targeting to study in?

39%
40%

35%

30%

25%
21%
20%

15%
15%

10% 8%
7%

5% 3% 3%
2%
1% 1%
0%
USA UK Rest of Canada Singapore China Australia New UAE Others
Europe Zealand

When it comes to studying abroad, students around the world have the USA, as their first
preference. Indian students are no different. Canada and the UK being the other popular
destinations. The COVID-19 outbreak will certainly have an impact on the student
preferences, and the students will look at other destinations, which are least affected by the
pandemic as an alternative.

Conclusion
In the coming months, we are about to witness a dramatic shift in how universities will be
dealing with the ongoing crisis. Students are sceptical about how this academic year will turn
out to be, and they need guidance from trained career coaches, now more than ever. This
survey has managed to explore and highlight the pertinent concerns that students might be
sharing, the higher Education Institutions need to acknowledge and address the same.
As the prevailing crisis due to the onset of COVID-19 evolves, Mindler will continue to run
surveys as well as further our research initiatives in order to support the higher education
sector and provide relevant insights. We believe that this research will be a positive
contribution to the existing body of work on and around the subject herein.

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