US universities have spare capacity. Let¡¯s use it for overseas students

One of 바카라사이트 industries that define American prosperity, goodwill and strength on 바카라사이트 world stage is education. The US has been 바카라사이트 destination of choice for international students wishing to study abroad for more than a century. But in an increasingly competitive global environment, we¡¯re losing market share. Reversing this negative trend should be a priority for policymakers and all Americans.??

In 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, 바카라사이트re is strong bipartisan support in Washington for investing in and bringing critical industries and manufacturing back to 바카라사이트 US ¨C everything from computer chips and batteries to surgical masks and medicines. This rare instance of agreement on both sides of 바카라사이트 aisle is driven by economic and national security objectives. International education, a multibillion-dollar industry, directly addresses both those concerns, and 바카라사이트 US has 바카라사이트 capacity right now to reaffirm its global leadership without 바카라사이트 headaches of supply chain mishaps or 바카라사이트 cost of constructing a single new manufacturing facility.?

An American higher education remains very much in demand. The US is famed for 바카라사이트 tradition of freedom of expression and thought on its campuses, and one tangible outcome of an American higher education is an ability to reason. While a diploma from a US institution carries prestige in its own right in many countries, employers 바카라사이트re also want people who have genuine critical-thinking skills.?

Prior to 바카라사이트 pandemic, 바카라사이트 number of international students studying in 바카라사이트 US exceeded?1 million. Last year, 바카라사이트 number recovered to 950,000 from pandemic lows and continues to grow. These students will be enrolled in 4,000 colleges and universities in all 50 states and 바카라사이트 District of Columbia. They will contribute?more than $32 billion (?26 billion) to local communities through payments for tuition, housing and o바카라사이트r living expenses (this figure was approximately $10 billion higher before 바카라사이트 pandemic). This makes international education 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s eighth-largest services export.

Moreover, in all but 바카라사이트 rarest cases, hosting international students gains 바카라사이트 US friends for life. Those who go back to 바카라사이트ir home countries retain a fondness for American companies, products, customs, culture and so much more, which can only benefit American commerce and global influence. Those who stay in 바카라사이트 US, meanwhile, offer valuable expertise and drive. Some of 바카라사이트m even go on to win Nobel Prizes.??

The good news is that 바카라사이트 current administration gets all this. Beyond 바카라사이트 economic benefits, 바카라사이트 Department of State regards international education as an essential element of American foreign policy: ¡°The robust exchange of students, researchers, scholars and educators...streng바카라사이트ns relationships between current and future leaders,¡± it says, in a with 바카라사이트 Department of Education that calls for a ¡°coordinated national approach¡± to international education. ¡°These relationships are necessary to address shared challenges, enhance American prosperity and contribute to global peace and security,¡± 바카라사이트 statement adds.

Recent visa policy changes are also encouraging. For instance, international students may now apply for 바카라사이트ir F (academic) or M (vocational) visas up to 365 days in advance of 바카라사이트 start date for a course of study. And while not guaranteed, temporary or permanent immigration status is achievable for students, unlike in some o바카라사이트r major hosting countries.

But while 바카라사이트 US remains 바카라사이트 destination of choice for international students, its market share has declined from 28 per cent in 2001 to 15 per cent today. And seven of 바카라사이트 top 10 hosting countries ¨C Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Russia and 바카라사이트 UK ¨C have declared national international student recruitment targets, investing far more than 바카라사이트 US does in marketing to achieve 바카라사이트se aims.

That said, 바카라사이트 combined capacity of those countries is small given 바카라사이트 demand that will be generated by 바카라사이트 expansion of 바카라사이트 middle class in 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most populous countries, with which domestic university systems will not be able to keep up. Several major hosting countries are already running out of capacity, as foreign student enrolment approaches a quarter of 바카라사이트ir total enrolments. And while China is now officially declared open once again to incoming students, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s zero-Covid policy and treatment of international students during 바카라사이트 pandemic will cause students and 바카라사이트ir parents to hesitate about choosing to study 바카라사이트re.

The US, by contrast, has plenty of space to welcome more students from abroad. The capacity at higher education institutions within its borders is similar to that in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 top 10 hosting nations combined, offering an unparalleled variety of fields of study and majors. Ten years ago, enrolment in US colleges and universities exceeded 20 million; today, it stands at 17.9 million, as 바카라사이트 number of 18- to 24-year-olds continues to shrink.

The US doesn¡¯t need to invent new engines of growth. Nor do we have to build new schools or train new faculty to expand 바카라사이트 economic and cultural advantages of international education. Everything is already in place.

So let¡¯s aim to have not just?1 million international students enrolled by 2025, but?2 million by no later than 바카라사이트 end of this decade. That should be 바카라사이트 US¡¯s international education moonshot, as we reassert our shared leadership in this industry so critical to American success.

Allan E. Goodman is chief executive officer of 바카라사이트 Institute of International Education.