This week's top #socialmedia and #intled news include webinars, podcasts, blogs, guides, on the top issues of the day related to international student recruitment, the first Global Benchmark Survey, a bevvy of articles in India prognosticating on what a second Trump administration may mean for the subcontinent, Australian top unis waitlisting internationals, Canada ending the SDS, and the UK feeling the financial pinch.
- This Wednesday, Keystone will be hosting a webinar taking a look at what 2025 has in store for international higher education including the impact of the US presidential election, policy changes, and global trends.
- The latest ICEF podcast features a panel of eight global industry experts from its recent Berlin event covering all sorts of topics related to the future of international student recruitment. Worth a listen.
- An important key to success in moving your institution’s future student recruitment plans must involve listening to your current students (and leveraging them in your communication efforts), according to this Intead blog. So true!
- Knowing where future international students, particularly those in China, live (online) is a part of communicating with them. This Sinorbis guide promises to demystify the web of platforms where Chinese students spend their time.
- To complement this guide, Sinorbis and ICEF are hosting a webinar tomorrow to dive deep into the Chinese digital landscape. The webinar will focus on social channels, maximizing your web presence, and low-cost strategies for connecting well.
- Perhaps one of the most significant, untapped (by institutions) developments in how international students find information about their college choices is the rise of social media influencers who have either recently graduated or are enrolled now. Are you tapping into those who talk about your institution?
- An upcoming webinar by GoinGlobal shares key information on how international students can take advantage of CPT, OPT, and STEM-OPT extensions. If you’re on the ISSS side, well worth know the details.
- AI is impacting almost all areas of our lives. In enrollment management, as gatekeepers for institutions when it comes to new students, are we fully literate on how generative AI tools can and are being used by students and institutions?
International Education News
- It’s no surprise to anyone in international education that government restrictions in 3 of the big 4 receiving countries on international students have happened. This Global Benchmark Survey reflects the early damage done: 41% received fewer post-grad internationals this fall.
- NAFSA, Oxford Test of English, and Studyportals' Global Benchmark Survey reveals that Canada suffers most across the major destination markets. Last year, they lost over 25% of new UG and GR international students.
- What impact do returning international students have on their countries? This enormous study looks at “53 studies across 1,500+ articles to map returnee impact on national development.” The proof is remarkable. International students enrich their home countries on return.
- Do you need a copy of the Global Benchmark Survey to share with your senior leadership to show the impact of government restrictions, and to emphasize the need to advocate for more international student-friendly laws and regulations? Sign up here.
- Which countries have the highest visa success rates and show the most potential for growth? This Q4 2024 report from Bonard Education takes a look five major destination markets: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US.
- The sentiment out of this China Daily opinion piece is enlightening: “The second reason is that the Chinese people seem to have accepted the fact that whichever candidate wins, the US' China-containment policy will not change.”
- Are you using the Brazilian national high school exam as part of your global admissions requirements? According to this BMI video accepting the ENEM for can open up the doors to a wider swath of Brazilian high school applicants.
- Are microcredentials becoming a thing on your campus? If not why not? It seems that international schools are also diving into this realm of additional credentials for its high school students to give them a leg up.
- Having implemented a peer mentorship program at our university recently (and at previous institutions) I can speak to the difference it makes for our current students to have their seniors taking an active interest in their success.
- Though the data is a bit dated, the numbers don’t lie: Andra Pradesh and Telangana are responsible for over 75% of all Indian students in the US. This week’s IIE Open Doors numbers will show as of fall 2023, over 300K studied here.
- Since the election, this kind of positive article is what you will continue to see till Inauguration Day. The hope that the Indian market feels about study and work opportunities in the US is truly remarkable.
- Another Indian news outlet shines a light on the expected improved job prospects for Indians in the US: “Steps are likely to be taken to ensure that more Indian students get scholarships and facilities in the US."
- The Indian Business Standard asks the right questions: “Will H-1B workers, STEM grads get green cards faster?” The anticipation from the subcontinent is seriously palpable.
- The Education and Cultural Attaché at the US Embassy in Delhi speaks glowingly about their progress on visas: “Consular Team India issued over 1 million non-immigrant visa in CY 2023, including over 600,000 visitor visas for business and tourism. This strong upward trajectory in travel reflects the deep, between the people of the U.S. and India.”
- The PIE News also takes a largely positive tone in their assessment of the Indian market: “Indian stakeholders are hopeful yet cautious about how his second presidency will impact student mobility from India to the US.”
- Global - Affordable and available housing for international students has wreaked havoc on countries big and small in their goals to enroll overseas students. This ICEF Monitor report breaks down the challenges impacting major markets.
- Asia - If you haven’t been paying attention to some of the East Asian nations that have been ramping up their international education efforts to meet real needs in their countries, read this article to see what Hong Kong, Korea, and Japan.
- Australia - Beyond the financial damage being done to Australian unis, what else might institutions and the country have to fear? “In turn, it may mean thousands of jobs could disappear, eroding universities’ research endeavours and provision of support services to students, and even impacting building maintenance and infrastructure projects.”
- Australia - With the Australian government shifting priorities to quality over quantity, which nations’ students look to be impacted most? India looks set to be the biggest loser when it comes to students who will suffer at the hands of the new caps.
- Australia - How are top Australian universities coping with the looming government-imposed caps? Stop new international enrollments altogether and create waitlists to slowly turn to when certain courses have space freeing up.
- Australia - The University of New South Wales is implementing a significant wait list for incoming international students to meet the 14% reduction in new international students they can enroll in 2025.
- Australia - Though international students have largely been blamed for the lack of affordable housing in Australian cities, the data seems to suggest they are being unfairly scapegoated.
- Canada - And things just keep getting worse for Canadian institutions hoping to retain significant numbers of international students with the sudden decision by the government to eliminate the Student Direct Stream and Nigerian Student Express program in 15 of their key source nations.
- Canada - Why did the Canadian government roll-up the SDS? “The cancellation of the SDS stream is part of a broader strategy by the Canadian government to regulate the influx of international students and manage growing pressure on the country’s housing and social services.”
- Germany - International students in Germany are growing at a consistent rate over the last seven years, going from 9.9% to 13.2% of the total higher ed population since 2017. Currently, nearly 380,000 internationals study there.
- Malaysia - Has Malaysia cracked the international student recruitment nut? “Malaysia, however, really is going the extra mile for its overseas students, establishing a fast lane just for international student arrivals at the airport.
- UK - A new public opinion survey shows that while the majority (58%) of the British public see a value in international students, there has been a softening of support for overseas students in the UK.
- UK - A 16% drop in new international students in the UK this fall has now led to the beginning of a dire future in the short-term as 72% of British universities are now operating at a deficit this academic year.
- UK - How severe is the financial crunch in the UK for unis? “‘We are all feeling the crunch,’ UUK president Sally Mapstone told the conference. Universities have welcomed more foreign students in a bid to fill budget gaps, to the point where many are financially dependent on them.”
SMIE Consulting Midweek Roundup
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. An audio-only version is available on all major podcast provider platforms.
