Renewed U.S. commitment to international education!

It couldn't have come at a better time, with fewer international students having chosen the U.S.A, coupled with continued decline of U.S.A. prominence as a destination of choice for international students. After four years of disastrous targeting by the Trump administration, international education may be poised for a come back. The U.S. Department of Education and Department of State issued a joint statement that may usher in a period of federal coordination of international initiatives, potentially returning U.S. higher education to magnet status for talented young people from all over the world.

The joint statement is also supported by the Department of Commerce and Homeland Security, a signal that there will be a purposeful and coordinated approach rather than hit and miss efforts coming only from the higher education sector. Secretary of State Blinkin said that the statement, "underscores our commitment to working across our government and with partners in higher education, the private sector, civil society and other sectors to keep promoting international education in the United States,..." potentially resulting in international student numbers exceeding pre-pandemic levels in American institutions.

Unfortunately, the early evidence reported in Reuters indicated that visa processing was not keeping pace with international student applications, an issue that requires quick resolution. To help on a concomitant issue, the American Council on Education proposed easing restrictions on COVID vaccination for visiting students and scholars coming from countries where vaccination is not readily available.

Fortunately, the decline in international students coming to the U.S.A. and the almost complete undoing of U.S.A. students studying abroad has begun to recover. The most recent reports include 15% decline in international enrollment in 2020-21 but hope for recovery from Trump-era hostility and the impact of the pandemic. The Biden administration announced new actions in January 2022 to attract and retain international students and researchers in STEM subjects. The move included 22 fields of study where optional practice training will be expanded from the typical 1 year to 3 years. Maintaining high numbers of international students in the future will be challenging as their countries of origin shift from China to other countries.

The THRIVE looked as if it might prevent paid recruiting in existing or proposed programs in which veterans might participate. However, lobbying to modify the proposed veterans' education law, concluded with the Senate approving the continued use of agents in international student recruiting, a practice used by many U.S.A. institutions.

One of the tensions of hosting international students is what they study. The latest report on graduate international enrollment highlights their preference for STEM subjects. Some fear the dominance of internationals in these programs, resulting in the export of critical scientific knowledge. However, the report acknowledges that many U.S. graduate programs would be damaged, or even have to close, if international graduate students weren't enrolled in them. Another tension was expressed by an international student of law at Stanford who warns those who interact with international students to stop asking, "when will you go back home?" At issue is the complexity of many international students' lives in the face of the pandemic and other economic and political strife that results in some not knowing when, or if, they will ever "return home."

Equity and inclusion has been a barrier for many in the past. To the credit of those who drafted the statement, it includes a commitment to "encourage U.S. students, researchers, scholars and educators who reflect the diversity of the U.S. population to pursue overseas study, internships, research and other international experiences." The Institute for International Education offered grants to 40 institutions to cover the cost of passport processing to resolve this one financial barrier. Some believe that in-person exchanges can also be supplemented by virtual exchanges, which expanded during the pandemic due to restricted travel around the world. Results of a Stevens Initiative survey concluded that a breadth of strategies were included under virtual exchange (including intercultural dialogue and peace building; science, technology, engineering or mathematics; and global or international affairs). These were found to vary in quality and impact.

Forbes included recommendations on how to expand students' global engagement "by leveraging data to understand students in a much deeper way than ever before. With this approach, they will be well positioned to deliver personalized, enriching cultural experiences for every student from their first interactions through graduation and beyond." The recommendations are very consistent with previous recommendations for comprehensive internationalization but, that Forbes as a business journal would run the article, is indicative of the priority placed on international education among for-profit business.

The United Kingdom is seeing a decline in the enrollment of international students, which is being attributed to both Brexit and the pandemic. UK institutions have drawn a portion of their students from other EU countries and students from the EU now pay higher tuition rates at UK institutions. The decline in international students has resulted in more homogenous student bodies in regard to both passport country as well as socio-economic background.