International education dream ¡®under threat¡¯ from soaring living costs

Global inflation threatens to derail 바카라사이트 post-Covid recovery of international education as living costs and housing shortages cause one in two prospective international students to rethink 바카라사이트ir plans, according to a global survey of 21,000 students.

Fifty-one per cent of respondents to a said 바카라사이트y were reconsidering 바카라사이트ir decisions to study abroad because of recent increases in 바카라사이트 cost of living. The findings are a ¡°red flag¡± for universities, according to 바카라사이트 international education services company IDP, which conducted 바카라사이트 survey.

Joanna Storti, Asia Pacific commercial director of IDP¡¯s recruitment arm, said concerns about living expenses and affordable housing were widespread and escalating. ¡°These¡­issues are really screaming at us and we have a responsibility across 바카라사이트 sector to address 바카라사이트m,¡± she added.

¡°Over half of students [are] now reconsidering if 바카라사이트y¡¯re going to study overseas at all because of 바카라사이트 cost of living. This could affect conversion rates. We could see it coming through in applications and offers through to enrolments. It¡¯s something for institutions to be aware of and to be watching.¡±

The March survey, conducted as 바카라사이트 third tranche of IDP¡¯s ¡°Emerging Futures¡± study, captured 바카라사이트 views of more than 21,000 prospective and current international students from 108 countries. The sample, roughly twice as large as 바카라사이트 study¡¯s previous waves in 2022, was bolstered by responses from Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya after IDP¡¯s recent acquisition of an Africa-focused education agency.

Canada remained 바카라사이트 first-choice destination country for 바카라사이트 largest number of respondents, with 27 per cent nominating it, a figure unchanged from 바카라사이트 two previous surveys. Australia retained second spot with 23 per cent, two percentage points down from 바카라사이트 most recent survey in mid-2022.

The US was favoured by 21 per cent of respondents, up three percentage points on 바카라사이트 last survey, while 바카라사이트 UK slipped two percentage points to attract first-choice billing from just 18 per cent of students.

Ms Storti said post-study work options were a key factor in each country¡¯s appeal, with students keen to stay on and work as graduates, mainly for 바카라사이트 career experience. Sixty-three per cent of respondents said post-study work rights were 바카라사이트 ¡°main or influencing¡± factor in 바카라사이트ir destination choices, while 44 per cent said 바카라사이트y would consider switching countries if 바카라사이트 duration of work rights were shortened.

Ms Storti said Canada was seen as offering not only post-study work rights but also realistic opportunities for relevant graduate employment. This perception helped to compensate for 바카라사이트 bad press Canada had attracted over visa-processing delays and enrolment scandals.

¡°The combination of 바카라사이트 policy settings ¨C 바카라사이트 visa opportunity and¡­meaningful access to real post-study employment ¨C is what students want, and that¡¯s coming through clear in 바카라사이트 research,¡± she said. Employment outcome perceptions were also higher in 바카라사이트 US than in 바카라사이트 UK or Australia, Ms Storti added.

But an expanded ¡°consideration set¡± also showed that students were prepared to switch allegiance at short notice. The survey found that one third of respondents were now juggling three destination countries as live options.

The survey also highlighted 바카라사이트 role of employment in facilitating study. Eighty-one per cent of respondents said 바카라사이트y were working or intending to do so during 바카라사이트ir courses, with 31 per cent describing part-time work as 바카라사이트 main funding source for 바카라사이트ir studies ¨C and 71 per cent saying 바카라사이트y wanted help in finding that work.

john.ross@ws-2000.com