Four Indian-origin students from the University of Houston: Aparajita Datta, Chirag Goel, Meghana Idamakanti, and Swapnil Sharma, are among the eight recipients of the inaugural 2023 Chevron Graduate Energy Fellowship. This fellowship, funded by Chevron, supports graduate students' energy-related research efforts through a year-long USD 12,000 grant. The program includes faculty mentoring and engagement with Chevron experts. The awardees, part of the UH-Chevron Energy Graduate Fellows, focus on innovative and scalable energy-related research, contributing to the energy industry's transformation. Their work spans topics like climate policies' impact, nuclear fusion reactions, renewable energy, and social impact initiatives like CovRelief for tracking hospital beds.

The Australian government is closing a visa loophole that allowed international students to enroll in cheaper vocational courses right after arriving, rather than completing initial university studies. Data showed a sharp uptick in this "concurrent study" use, prompting concerns about predatory providers exploiting students. Education Minister Jason Clare said the change will stop improper switching and maintain the integrity of Australia's education industry. The government will also increase the savings international students need for a visa by 17%, citing rising living costs. The new restrictions may prove hard for Indian middle-class students due to the increased financial requirements.

The Canadian Immigration department (IRCC) plans to implement a Trusted Institution framework for its student visa program by 2024. This will evaluate post-secondary institutions on criteria like sustainable intake, compliance, and ensuring a positive student experience. Institutions meeting criteria will become Trusted Institutions, with implications like faster visa processing. The framework aims to partner with reliable institutions as part of modernizing and strategically managing Canada's international student visa program. Details are still limited, but the central concept focuses on designating institutions that demonstrate compliance, identify genuine students, and provide enriching experiences as trusted partners for areas like visa processing

New research found artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT can achieve higher average grades than students on university assignments across subjects including computer science and psychology. The study from NYU Abu Dhabi found ChatGPT matched or exceeded student efforts when answering assessment questions. Despite 70% of educators considering it plagiarism, 74% of students would use ChatGPT for assignments. Since its November release, ChatGPT has drawn attention for its human-like conversational abilities. The study indicates its prose generation also outperforms students, raising concerns about AI's impact on education.

Over 100,000 Indian students were granted UK student visas in 2023, marking a record high. This comes as 21 Indian students were recently deported from the US after immigration checks, causing concern. The US visa cancellations could lead to 5-year US entry bans and create problems entering Canada, the UK, and Australia. Financial losses from visa cancellation are estimated at £3 lakh per student. The deported students from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were en route to begin studies when detained at US airports. Despite having completed requirements, confusion arose from thorough document checks. As Indian student interest in studying abroad surges, visa barriers highlight the need for careful preparation.