In our day-to-day professional work in international education, we all struggle to manage information flow, identify opportunities, synthesize possible solutions, and act appropriately to better ourselves, our audiences, and our world. To help in this often overwhelming task, Social Media & International Education (SMIE) Consulting offers this free weekly e-news brief to share our perspectives and to provide some wisdom along the way. Happy reading!
- If you are working with agents or thinking about it, this AIRC webinar this Thursday is well worth your time. There are so many moving parts to managing an agent network successfully. Take the time to learn from the experts.
- Want to hear what ChatGPT has to say about its impact on international education, recruitment, marketing and communications? This ICEF podcast is enlightening as to what the capabilities and limitations may be.
- The TikTok banning bandwagon is gaining strength this week with the Canadian government joining the US federal government, 50%+ of US states, and the EC also “restricting use on devices they manage or permit on official networks.”
- India had more government-directed internet shutdowns in 2022 than any other country, raising internet freedom concerns. Why so many? Political instability and violence in Kashmir and Jammu, protests, communal violence, and exams in West Bengal and Rajasthan.
- This Wednesday’s webinar from the PIE is one we can all agree is a worthy cause and should be celebrated: Embracing female leadership in international education.
- Planning to do some digital marketing efforts to reach international students in Argentina? If so, check out this Webcertain guide to social media and search habits of Argentinians and tips on how to localize your content for that audience.
International Education News
- Common App numbers for first-year undergraduate admissions for fall 2023 are a full 21% ahead of the last pre-pandemic year. China, India, Nigeria, Ghana, and Canada top the international sources up 53% versus 2019-20.
- After attending the AIEA Conference in DC a couple of weeks ago, I can honestly say I am grateful for the meaningful conversations with senior international officers from so many different countries. Such an invaluable event for our field.
- This move by the UC system seems incredibly anachronistic. Why ban fully-online degrees for undergraduates? Because they want them to spend at least 3 quarters on campus. California apparently hasn’t got the memo yet.
- I know a number of colleagues on the college counseling side that are a bit perplexed by this move. While I’m glad that College Advisor’s resources for international students will still be available, I don’t like the endorsement of US News rankings.
- Kudos to Columbia for being the first of the Ivies to become permanently test-optional for SAT/ACT. Go ahead the rest of you, it’s okay, you will survive.
- Federal government departments often write incredibly boring guidance and regulations, but every so often, when no one expects it, one (US Dept of Ed) sticks its proverbial foot in a hornet’s nest. This Feb 15 guidance on Title IV program administration is an absolute mess: “However, even at this stage, the most likely scenario appears to be that the Department is in fact primarily concerned with contractual arrangements that US institutions have with OPMs, and that it inadvertently set a wider-than-intended scope for its oversight with a poorly worded letter on 15 February.”
- If you are looking (and we all should be, honestly) for the variations of what internationalization means in other countries both in the Global North and Global South, this University World News piece includes some fascinating case studies.
- Love these budget-directing questions from Intead: “Where are the strongest opportunities for growth? What do you truly value? And are you performing at the level that produces desired results?” Let’s put resources in goals that align with our values.
- This ICEF Monitor article assessment of student housing availability in key destination markets (excluding the US oddly enough) is scary for prospective students. “Where will I live?” is now a make or break question for international students.
- This sponsored Study Group article does have one statement we can all get behind: “We will grow as we do the right thing by (international students). And the world needs all the smart and globally connected young people it can get.”
- Campus France reports outbound student flows from sub-Saharan Africa will double by 2050 (to over 860K). There are many push factors that will drive these students abroad, but will other governments, besides France, change visa policies that right now destroy the dreams of countless thousands.
- Thanks to IDP for sharing this current international student report on mental health issues. We all realized how impactful the pandemic was on our well-being physically and mentally. Let this report remind us how important mental health services are for our overseas students.
- Australia - When you think of the largest drivers of students to Australia, IDP has always played a significant role. Recent indications, student placements up 142% to Australia in 2022. That’s 15,200 IDP students in one year Down Under.
- Australia - In a rare move, an Australian university has stopped recruitment of Indian students from two states due to unusually high visa denial rates (bad financials, unscrupulous agents, and unauthentic students). Bold but right move.
- Australia - The new extended post-study work rights (in certain fields) for international students go into effect in July. This ICEF Monitor article shares stories of how increased work hours per week (+4) will be welcomed by students facing increased costs.
- Canada - The growth of Latin American students choosing Canada should be cause for concern for US institutions hoping to expand their reach south of the border. Almost as many Mexicans studying in Canada as the US.
- Canada - Indian students are making up an increasingly larger percentage of international students in Canada, now over 40%. Based on 2022 numbers, there were almost as many Indians choosing Canada as the US for study.
- Canada - There are many reasons to be envious of our northern neighbors for how they have skyrocketed to international student recruitment success in the last 10-15 years, but perhaps the most significant is how the government actively engages with unis on future policy.
- China - No surprise that government-owned China Daily says conditions are ripe for international students to return to China for study. To be honest, they are desperately hoping overseas students come back in numbers. Jury is out on that one.
- New Zealand - While there is a lot to appreciate about New Zealand as a study destination, the title of this positive piece for Kiwi nation ending in a question mark, reflects either the way they speak or unintended doubt of a return to success.
- United Kingdom - A recently established UK commission to explore the state of international education devoted time to gauge international students’ feedback on their experiences. What the officials heard hopefully opens the eyes of leadership on where their shortcomings are.
- United Kingdom - Are international student fees at UK unis extortionate? Other commentators are sharing that overseas students are charged 400% more than the actual cost of education, and as such are “morally problematic” and “exploitative.”
- United Kingdom - The future of dependents of graduate level international students in the UK is still in doubt with debates swirling in the government. Where have they been coming from: Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
- United Kingdom - Digging deeper on the potential dependent ban (or at least severe restrictions) shows a fair bit of elitism rearing its ugly head with only STEM degrees at top universities being considered for visas.
If you’d like a more in-depth analysis of the main news stories each week, check out our Midweek Roundup international education live chat on Wednesday at 1pm ET on the SMIE Consulting Facebook page, YouTube channel, Twitter feed, and LinkedIn. A podcast version is available as well on all major podcast provider platforms.
