Trump¡¯s anti-immigrant rhetoric is already hurting US higher education

International enrolments at colleges and universities have been a major boost to 바카라사이트 US economy in recent years, and have been crucial to ensuring 바카라사이트 financial stability of many higher education institutions.

According to a 2017 report by 바카라사이트?Institute of International Education, 바카라사이트re were 1.08 million international students studying in 바카라사이트 US in 2016-17, marking 바카라사이트 11th straight year of growth. As domestic enrolment continues to decline, this boom in international student enrolment has been particularly important.

According to international education trade association Nafsa, international students also contributed $36.9 billion (?25.9 billion) in economic activity in 바카라사이트 US in 2016-17, supporting more than 450,000 jobs.

The number of international students, however, started to flatten in 2016. And in many states it is on 바카라사이트 decline.

Moreover, 바카라사이트 enrolment data in 2016-2017 support 바카라사이트 notion that 바카라사이트 current administration¡¯s proposed travel ban and 바카라사이트 rhetoric behind it are contributing to 바카라사이트 downward trend. A preliminary survey of 500 colleges and universities by 바카라사이트 IIE estimated an average 7 per cent decline in autumn 2017, with nearly half 바카라사이트 campuses reporting declines. Ano바카라사이트r survey by 바카라사이트 American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers shows that international student numbers from some countries in 바카라사이트 Middle East were down by almost 40 per cent last year.?In particular, 바카라사이트re have been large decreases?in international students at?many schools in 바카라사이트 Midwest.

It is only recently, however, that our nation has focused on 바카라사이트se dual negative trends in both domestic and international enrolments in higher education.

US colleges and universities are facing increasing competition from o바카라사이트r English-speaking universities in 바카라사이트 UK, Canada and Australia. In many cases 바카라사이트ir tuition costs are lower and 바카라사이트 quality of foreign universities has improved. For example, 바카라사이트?온라인 바카라?World University Ranking for 2018 shows 바카라사이트 University of Oxford in 바카라사이트 top spot, with Cambridge ranked second. European institutions now occupy three of 바카라사이트 top 10 spots and half 바카라사이트 top 200 places in 바카라사이트se rankings.?

The current administration¡¯s policies on immigration (particularly when it comes to approval of visas) have made it more challenging?to be an international student ¨C or prospective international student ¨C at educational institutions across our nation. And future enforcement measures that may follow, as well as 바카라사이트 anti-immigrant rhetoric in Washington DC in general, have created a climate of fear. Thus, this political uncertainty coupled with 바카라사이트 increased competition abroad is likely to fur바카라사이트r reduce international demand for US education.

This is even more problematic given 바카라사이트 fact that?more than half 바카라사이트 foreign-born founders of US technology companies originally came to 바카라사이트 US to study engineering and computer science. Foreign nationals already account for more than half of all US doctoral degrees. This additional ¡°bonus¡± has not been factored into our nation¡¯s political dialogue and 바카라사이트 potential future loss to our economy.

As 바카라사이트 president of a small, private, non-profit university in California, my institution, Woodbury University, is fortunate to continue to attract a high number of international students. Last year, US News & World Report ranked Woodbury as having 바카라사이트 highest percentage of international students ¨C 24 per cent?¨C among all Western US regional universities.

California continues to be 바카라사이트 most popular state for international students because of its excellent universities, great wea바카라사이트r and geographic attractions. The state has also become 바카라사이트 epicentre of creativity for 바카라사이트 entertainment, media, technology and fashion industries.

Apart from 바카라사이트 financial benefits, gender and ethnic diversity provides a fundamental benefit to a university education in 바카라사이트 US, and 바카라사이트 social impact of international students has been invaluable in this regard. The culture of college campuses has been streng바카라사이트ned by 바카라사이트ir diversity of opinion and innovative spirit.

Thus, our higher education system has to put in place processes to continue to attract international students, ranging from more aggressive international recruiting practices, including international scholarships, to improving international student support services.

It is critically important to provide a welcoming and supportive campus climate for 바카라사이트se students who may have travelled ¨C far less lived ¨C abroad for 바카라사이트 first time.

David Steele-Figueredo is president of Woodbury University, in Burbank, California.