This week's top #socialmedia and #intled news include WhatsApp in Asia, what are search and social like in Latin America, TikTok and the college search, an advocacy win in the US, how many international students stay in the US, the important of work for Indian students, jacked up visa fees in Australia, and the UK under Labour.
- WhatsApp is the largest messaging app in the world. Even in many Asian markets, it is king. Are you using it effectively to reach future students in those key sending countries? If not please attend this upcoming Sinorbis webinar.
- Wondering what search and social tips you need to connect in six key Latin American nations (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru)? This Webcertain guide provides the details you need.
- Do high schoolers today use TikTok to gather information on their chances of admission at top US colleges? Yes, they do. This college student began an advice account on the short-form video platform to share his insights.
- Looking for market insights and data-driven reports to really inform your international student enrollment management strategy? Check out these Q2 resources from the team at Intead.
- There is a Generative AI Imperative impacting higher education (heck, the entire world) these days. This QS survey shares how students are using GAI in their decision-making, in their studies, their opinions, and how institutions can use it.
- Karin Fischer from the Chronicle appeared as the guest for Pulse Check podcast on the topic of Navigating International Recruitment: An expert take on international student recruitment. Well worth your time.
- Our colleagues at Studyportals released their July 2024 Data Into Insights publication. Solid review of the potential impact of the US elections on international student interest as well as rising interest in Japan, and data.
- In the international education community, advocacy wins are few and far between. This past week, we got one with funding for study abroad and exchange programs was preserved as hostile amendments were voted down.
- Turkiye has been a hot and cold market in recent years, impacted strongly by economic challenges and currency devaluations, but is it poised for a strong rebound. This ICEF Monitor report explains all.
- What percentage of international students in the US stay long-term (legally) after graduation? 41%. “Only 17 percent of bachelor’s degree recipients stay. Half of master’s degree recipients and one-quarter of PhD recipients also leave.”
- For international students in the United States, what can and should US colleges being doing a better job of in helping them adjust to their new surroundings and their futures? A recent Terra Dotta survey suggests social integration and career prep.
- We should be promoting CPT and OPT more to key markets where work opportunities matter most. This kind of article by Apply Board for the Economic Times in India is an excellent start. Now, how well are you doing this at your college?
- International students bring so much to our campuses but can also help bring the world to our local communities through language education. This NAFSA International Educator piece makes a compelling case for including this in our efforts.
- Internships enhance employment opportunities, right? For Indian students in the US, there is a new platform set up by the Indian Consulate in New York City to serve them. "Several Indian and American companies and organizations have agreed to consider deserving Indian students for internship opportunities.”
- Australia - Self-inflicted wounds tend to be more commonplace these days in major destination markets for overseas students. Australia jacked up their student visa application fees from $710 Aus. to $1600 Aus. as of July 1. Yikes.
- Australia - This ICEF Monitor article shares an interesting government perspective on this visa fee increase. "This increase reflects the increasing value of education in Australia and reflects the Government’s commitment to restoring integrity in the international education sector."
- Australia - Among the other perhaps unintentional self-inflicted wounds Australian international educators are suffering at the hands of government visa crackdowns is a halving of students from India, Nepal, and the Philippines. Oops.
- Australia - Even a reliable market for unis Down Under, Vietnam, student visa approval rates have dropped to 18 year lows, after consistently being in the 85-99.5% range for the last decade.
- Australia - Are some Australian universities imposing a blanket ban on Indian students? If so, this is extremely troubling. I remember students from certain Indian states were prohibited from applying to certain unis, but a country-wide ban would be highly discriminatory.
- China - What has become of China as a major destination for international students? While numbers have dropped considerably since pre-pandemic times, the number of English Taught Programs has increased dramatically to attract overseas students.
- India - With more than 1.4 million Indians studying outside the country in 2022, what has the impact on India been? A serious brain drain or a significant boost to the nation? This article from two scholars shares the positive impact of the enormous diaspora.
- India - How significant is the Indian diaspora economically to the motherland? If you don’t know what remittance is, the $107 billion sent back to India from abroad is twice the level of foreign investment annually. Twenty-three percent comes from the US.
- Japan - Because of the historic collapse of the Japanese yen, millions are flooding into Japan this year. Record numbers in fact. The majority coming from China, Korea, and Taiwan, with a million Americans making the trip in the first five months of 2023.
- Latin America - The international school community is expanding rapidly in Latin America with Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico leading the remarkable growth. What are the drivers? Rise of English language courses and the middle class.
- New Zealand - ELT programs and universities in New Zealand continue to rebound from their 2019 pre-pandemic highs. But they are still a ways off those numbers with 60% and 86% respectively.
- New Zealand - Due to rising costs and bureaucratic challenges, Kiwi universities are doing away with their Academic Quality Agency that did process audits (much like US regional accreditation bodies). Is that really a good idea?
- UK - Has the British government been complicit in contributing to universities’ overreliance on international students in recent years. Two recent reports from the Social Market Foundation make a strong case that, yes, it has been.
- UK - Has the damage already been done reputationally and with recent government actions to international education in the UK? With a 27% drop in visas reported in May, and a 46% drop in student deposits for Fall 2024, the answer is yes.
- UK - Cautiously optimistic is the phrase of the week for the international education sector in Britain after the Labour Party’s landslide victory in parliament. But will there be substantive change in time to repair the damage done?
- UK - One of the greatest success stories of UK international education has been its multi-billion pound TNE (transnational education) initiatives. But can or should the country go all-in on expanding these labor and cost-intensive models?
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.
