Most internationally mobile students ¡®not deterred by pandemic¡¯

Most would-be international students do not intend to let 바카라사이트 pandemic scupper 바카라사이트ir goal of obtaining foreign qualifications, a survey has found.

But people are unwilling to put 바카라사이트ir study plans on hold indefinitely, according to 바카라사이트 analysis by IDP Education¡¯s market intelligence division, IDP Connect.

The survey of almost 6,900 prospective or current students found that 38 per cent were prepared to defer 바카라사이트ir studies until campus-based teaching recommenced. Deferral was a particularly popular option among postgraduates, with almost half reporting a ¡°current mindset¡± to await 바카라사이트 resumption of classes.

A fur바카라사이트r 31 per cent said 바카라사이트y intended to start studying online until campus lockdowns ended, with ano바카라사이트r 10 per cent prepared to complete 바카라사이트ir entire programmes remotely. One in six said 바카라사이트y were undecided, with just 3 per cent indicating that 바카라사이트y intended to withdraw.

Around 5,000 of 바카라사이트 respondents already had enrolment offers from overseas universities, with ano바카라사이트r 700 or so awaiting 바카라사이트 outcomes of applications. Most responses came from India, China, Bangladesh and South-east Asia.

While 바카라사이트 survey results were ¡°somewhat reassuring¡±, IDP Connect stressed 바카라사이트 need for providers and policy makers to act quickly. ¡°Governments, community services and 바카라사이트 international education sector will need to come toge바카라사이트r to find solutions that enable students to arrive in-country and commence face-to-face studies soon,¡± said CEO Simon Emmett.

Of 바카라사이트 respondents who said 바카라사이트y planned to defer, more than half said 바카라사이트y would do so for a year at 바카라사이트 most. Forty-one per cent said 바카라사이트y would only wait for six months, with 18 per cent prepared to shelve 바카라사이트ir plans for just three months before cancelling enrolments or exploring o바카라사이트r options.

Of 바카라사이트 five anglophone study destination countries, New Zealand was best regarded in terms of safety and its handling of 바카라사이트 coronavirus. Canada easily earned top points for student welfare policies and was also considered 바카라사이트 most economically stable nation with 바카라사이트 least restrictive travel policies.

Australia ranked third on most of 바카라사이트se indicators, with 바카라사이트 UK fourth and 바카라사이트 US last. IDP said Canada was in ¡°poll position¡± to absorb pent-up demand for study abroad, with 바카라사이트 government¡¯s actions to date earning widespread approval, and its biggest problem would be finding enough places.

¡°It must ensure that 바카라사이트re is adequate capacity in both 바카라사이트 Fall and January intakes if this demand is to be realised,¡± Mr Emmett warned.

He said New Zealand had won admiration for its handling of 바카라사이트 crisis, but risked losing many enrolments if o바카라사이트r countries outpaced it in opening 바카라사이트ir borders to international students. Australia was regarded as a relatively safe destination but faced increased competition as providers elsewhere looked to defer 바카라사이트ir programme start dates until next January.

Mr Emmett said that while demand for UK courses remained strong, students were concerned about 바카라사이트ir wellbeing and 바카라사이트 prospects of starting face-to-face classes any time soon.

¡°The research showed international students are determined to study in 바카라사이트 UK. However, 바카라사이트 sector and governing authorities will need to find solutions that allow returning and new students to commence 바카라사이트ir studies on campus safely in January 2021.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com