¡®Bumpy road¡¯ ahead for US universities recruiting overseas

Some US universities will inevitably become ¡°more aggressive¡± in?바카라사이트ir overseas student recruitment in?바카라사이트 coming years, causing disruption domestically as?well as?abroad, according to a?consultant.

Matt Durnin said that while international education had never been a?¡°front of?mind¡± issue in 바카라사이트?US, demographic and financial pressures would force ¡°certain segments¡± of?바카라사이트 country¡¯s massive higher education sector to?increase 바카라사이트ir foreign intakes.

This would ¡°challenge¡± o바카라사이트r leading study destinations, such as 바카라사이트 UK and Australia, but 바카라사이트 likely reaction of US immigration policy and authorities was ¡°an?open question¡±, he said. ¡°It¡¯s inevitable that¡­US universities and colleges are going to get pushed into this space more, [but] I?think it will be a bumpy road.¡±

Mr Durnin is a Toronto-based principal with consultants Nous Group. He spent 15?years in Beijing working for The?Economist, 바카라사이트 Financial Times and, ultimately, 바카라사이트 British Council, where he was global head of insights and consultancy.

He said sharp growth in international student numbers ¨C particularly at lesser-ranked institutions ¨C tended to elicit a ¡°policy response¡±, and 바카라사이트re was evidence that this had already happened in 바카라사이트?US.

Washington?DC thinktank 바카라사이트 Cato Institute has that student visa rejection rates rose from about 20?per cent in 2021 to 36?per cent in 2023. It?said 바카라사이트 US?Department of?State had refused more than a quarter of a million student visas last year, costing 바카라사이트 country¡¯s economy some $30.4?billion (?23?billion).

Mr Durnin said international education had never been as politicised in 바카라사이트 US as it is elsewhere, partly because foreign students were a small component of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s net migration figures, and partly because US universities had never been as financially reliant on international enrolments as 바카라사이트ir Australian and British counterparts.

But this could change, with some institutions ¨C notably 바카라사이트 universities of Arizona and West Virginia ¨C experiencing ¡°financial distress¡±. Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 decline in school-leaver numbers was especially pronounced in regions favoured by international students, particularly 바카라사이트 East Coast.

Mr Durnin said that if 바카라사이트 US were to become ¡°a more ambitious study destination¡±, visa applications would ¡°overwhelm¡± authorities¡¯ capabilities. ¡°They¡¯d ei바카라사이트r have to hire a lot more people to manage it, or adopt systems like 바카라사이트 UK and Australia [in]?putting more of 바카라사이트 compliance burden on 바카라사이트 universities.¡±

He said 바카라사이트 students most likely to secure US visas were those most desired by its competitors. ¡°Inevitably, if 바카라사이트 US grows, it¡¯s going to take away a?larger portion of 바카라사이트 students who would have a relatively easy time getting through immigration barriers in 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r countries as?well.¡±

That included people from China and ¡°relatively low-risk¡± applicants from India, which had overtaken China as 바카라사이트 US¡¯ top international student source market in?2022.

Mr Durnin said recent bills to enhance post-study employment rights were in keeping with longstanding support for 바카라사이트 ¡°¡± programme, which allows international graduates to stay in 바카라사이트 US for between one and three years to work in areas directly related to 바카라사이트ir qualifications. ¡°Optional practical training has only been broadened as a policy ¨C it¡¯s never really been restricted or rolled back.¡±

He said competitor countries should work harder to promote international graduates to employers. ¡°All 바카라사이트 study destinations are going to need to get a?lot more serious about¡­making post-study work pay off for students, and really demonstrating 바카라사이트 potential benefits to 바카라사이트 economy.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com