This week's top #socialmedia and #intled news include a guide to Instagram marketing, a blog on Tanzania rising, ICP licenses in China, visa wait times for US-bound students, opportunities and challenges for the US vs. the other big four destinations, tuition deposit increases, and Canada's continued challenges.
- Instagram is a photo/video sharing behemoth amongst social media platforms with 2.4 billion monthly active users. The team at Webcertain produced a decent guide to marketing on Instagram.
- Where is your institution with online education internationally? “International markets are desperate for online education, specifically degrees. There are millions of learners, highly differentiated needs, and little competition.”
- Tanzania is an up-and-coming market, but is it right for your college? This Intead blog looks at the questions you should ask before jumping into a new market like this growing African nation: “Is there a growing youth population??Is there a growing middle class/GDP growth? Can a set of families afford travel costs and your program tuition? Do your programs line up with the job opportunities in that market? And can you provide a welcoming community and academic support for these students on campus?”?
- It really is quite remarkable how quickly Generative AI has taken on such a prominent role in our educational discourse on campus and in society as a whole. Seventy percent of recent grads have expressed a wish for more education on this transformative tool.
- Most international educators are not techies or web experts. However, in certain markets we really need to have a baseline education on what’s possible. This Sunrise piece explains how your sites need an ICP license in China.
- The US Department of State shares an updated Visa Wait Times site with some important caveats for in-person interview waivers, and student expedited interviews. Actually some helpful information.
- The small sample size Terra Dotta current international student survey claims that “49 percent of international students were worried about crime, theft, and their safety before moving to the United States to pursue degrees.”
- Does online education need to evolve? On the heels of the largest OPM (2U) declaring bankruptcy this past week, ed tech leaders met in London claiming unis: “aren’t going to be able to charge these exaggerated prices for a degree that just doesn’t have a very clear return on investment.”
- AIRC has released its three-year strategic plan with three important priorities: Global Leadership and Excellence in IEM, Inclusive and Sustainable Growth, and Research, Publications, and Advocacy. Strong statement of intent.
- Kudos to AFS for conducting this survey ("Global Families, Global Impact: The Experience of Host Families in International Youth Exchange") on the value of being a host family for international students coming to the United States. Share this with campus!
- Excellent summary of the current state of play globally with the four main destination markets by Rachel Scholten at Loyola Maryland. She paints a clear picture of the opportunities and the challenges faced by the US to prosper.
- Enlightening report from the Council of Graduate Schools examining why the US has seen such a strong wave of Indian graduate applicants in the last two years and why it looks to continue for the foreseeable future.
- The US Department of Defense releases its updated blacklist of foreign institutions with which US colleges and universities should refrain from research collaborations because they have “engaging in problematic activity.”
- A new academic program has been added to the STEM list (for 3 years of OPT) by the US Department of Homeland Security. Environmental and natural resource economics is the latest addition on top of the 30 added last year.
- Though this article is about tuition deposits being increased by UK universities, I think US colleges can probably relate to some of the motivations and markets that are targets for increased deposit requirements.
- Australia - Wondering how Australia’s international education sector has gotten to the place it is languishing in today? This PIE News piece breaks all the major post-pandemic happenings and government reactions to challenges.
- Canada - Is Canada rolling back the welcome mat for international students? “Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said a study visa wasn't a promise for a long-term stay in Canada. He said international students should study in Canada and return to their native countries.”
- Canada - While the US English language training sector has rebounded to 69% of pre-pandemic levels, Canada’s sector has now achieved 82% of 2019 levels with strong rebounding of numbers from Latin America.
- Canada - Canada’s IRCC has made it more difficult for international students to change schools once in the country. Once approved the new regulations would require students to apply for a new study permit before starting at the new college.
- Canada - No country wants to hear this from Chinese students studying in your country. Are Canadian institutions “monotonous” and unaffordable? “Major shifts in Canada were occurring, with a growing chorus of people souring on immigration and policymakers increasingly concerned about foreign interference.
- Germany - Everything costs more in inflationary times. For international students headed to Germany, who must deposit money into a blocked account before receiving a student visa, have seen that minimum amount increase by 700 euros.
- Hong Kong - Universities in the SAR of Hong Kong, after having been flooded with Mainland Chinese students recently, are now throwing mad scholarship money at HK native students to stay at local unis including funding for a study abroad year.
- India - What does PM Modi’s first budget of his third term look like for international education in India? “Potential enhancements in infrastructure, research facilities, and overall quality. As India advances toward digital literacy, strengthening digital infrastructure becomes crucial.”
- India - Some prognosticators in India are concerned that the continued growth in domestic students seeking study abroad options over lesser quality institutions at home is creating short-term economic damage with the money being spent abroad.
- South Korea - With a 300K goal for its international student population by 2027, South Korea is well on its way to achieving this number with a 23% increase this past year. Why? Increased work hours, reduced funding required, and expanded post-study work options.
- UK - Is the new Labour government in Britain going to solve the funding woes universities are and will be experiencing due to expected declines in overseas students? No. But it will support recruitment efforts and back the Graduate Route. Will it be enough?
- UK - One thing is clear for the UK international education sector, they need to be advocating now more than ever to the government about the true value of international students to their institutions, communities, and the country.
- UK - UCAS, the system through which all students wishing to study at UK universities must apply, has changed. “Instead of a 4,000-character statement, from next year applicants will be asked to answer three questions on why they want to study their chosen course and how they are prepared for it.”
- UK - Troubling times for British unis: “Research shows that about a third of UK universities are experiencing financial difficulty, caught in the crosshairs of declining international applications, stagnant domestic tuition revenue, inflation, and low government funding.”
If you’d like a more in-depth analysis of the main news stories each week, check out our?#MidweekRoundup?#intled?#livechat?on Wednesday at 1 pm ET on the SMIE Consulting?Facebook?page,?YouTube?channel,?Twitter feed, and?LinkedIn. A podcast version is available on all major podcast provider platforms.
