This past week, IIE released its annual report on international students in US Higher Education, and for the first time in over a decade, overall growth was nearly stagnate. New students in the US showed the third straight year of declines. The articles of concern abound. But those in higher education have been aware of the negative trends leading up to the 2014/2015 academic year when the dollar strengthened and oil prices fell.
Reality is that there is much to celebrate within these numbers, if one is willing to take the long view: 60% growth in international students in the past decade, steep increases in OPT participation (in large part due to the STEM extension), and over 32% increase in new students since the 2018/2019 academic year.
While higher education faces uncertainty due to an decrease in rapid growth of international students, institutions that value the impact and contribution of international students within the overall mission of the university will continue to reap benefits.
Even a casual perusal of the numbers highlights:
– Growth for Computer Science and Mathematics Degrees
– Focus on the Baccalaureate Level
– Emphasis on STEM Programs and OPT Opportunities
– Opportunities for articulation with top-receiving community colleges
Outside of the numbers, reports from the field highlight rising interest in short-term and professional programs, which provide certification or enhanced learning. Pathway or foundation programs may have lost their luster but are still popular.
Most importantly, markets are shifting – the powerhouses of China and India remain but there is growth in emerging and non-traditional markets in South America and Africa.
US Higher Education faces an uncertain political environment – that environment includes unfavorable immigration policy, vis-a-vis what Australia, Canada, and the UK offer; increased global competition; continued economic volatility; and, perhaps the most concerning, the continued rising costs of US HE relative to other countries. (At the recent celebration of the 100th year of the Norwegian-American Association at the Embassy of Norway, Ambassador, Kåre R. Aas remarked that it only costs $100 a year to attend a university in Norway.)
We at Global Education Professionals are dedicated to supporting educational institutions that seek to integrate and strategically implement mission-focused solutions to the internationalization of its campus. Whether engaged in system-wide initiatives (such as Pathways or Recruitment Strategies) or department/office specific initiatives (such as Admissions Yield or Market Identification/Representation), Global Ed stands ready to come alongside and help navigate. Reach us today at info@globaledprofs.org for more information.
The numbers indicate that the record growth is waning, but the opportunities for impact still exist. How will your office or institution locate and embrace the opportunities.