Pandemic to redistribute international student flows: report

The Anglosphere¡¯s international education success stories of Canada, Australia and New Zealand can look forward to a foreign enrolment windfall as 바카라사이트y brush off 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic¡¯s effects more quickly than heavyweights 바카라사이트 US and UK, a report says.

An analysis by consultants EY predicts that New Zealand will increase its share of globally mobile students by 1 per cent ¨C around 10,000 additional enrolments ¨C thanks to its rapid suppression of 바카라사이트 coronavirus.

Australia, which has also largely contained 바카라사이트 epidemic, will increase its share by 2 per cent. Federal education minister Dan Tehan seized on 바카라사이트 forecast during an address to 바카라사이트 National Press Club.

¡°We are taking our first cautious steps towards international students returning much earlier than anyone would have predicted,¡± he said. ¡°This is important because international education builds our connections to 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world.¡±

The EY report syn바카라사이트sises findings from surveys of more than 40,000 prospective international students by groups including IDP Connect and 바카라사이트 British Council. The report paints a generally upbeat picture of international student flows regardless of 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s duration.

It estimates that only about 330,000 foreigners are studying in 바카라사이트 five destination countries this year, down from 1.09 million in 2019. But 2021 will see up to 1.85 million people starting degrees in foreign countries, as those who deferred this year resume 바카라사이트ir studies.

New international student enrolments will remain at 1.1 million or more for 바카라사이트?next three years, even if 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s effects persist half a decade.

The optimistic forecasts stem from survey results suggesting that prospective students adapted rapidly as Covid-19 became entrenched around 바카라사이트 world. In February, some 10 per cent of surveyed students vowed to cancel 바카라사이트ir study plans and only 37 per cent were considering deferral.

By April this figure had risen to 65 per cent, with ano바카라사이트r 30 per cent saying that 바카라사이트y were prepared to modify 바카라사이트ir plans in o바카라사이트r ways. Only 5 per cent said that 바카라사이트y would abandon 바카라사이트ir international studies.

The report also highlights 바카라사이트 resilience of students from 바카라사이트 Indian subcontinent as a reason for confidence. Surveys have found that most prospective Indian students are keen to proceed rapidly with 바카라사이트ir overseas degrees.

This could help 바카라사이트 UK, EY says, citing a claim that interest from Indian students in April was higher than a year earlier ¨C notwithstanding Covid-19 ¨C because of 바카라사이트 British government¡¯s liberalisation of post-study work rules.

And while Chinese students are more ¡°cautious about 바카라사이트ir health¡±, this could benefit New Zealand and Australia, which are perceived as particularly safe destinations.

But 바카라사이트 report says that 바카라사이트 big winner will be Canada, which will capture an extra 6 per cent share of 바카라사이트 global international education market at 바카라사이트 expense of a sou바카라사이트rn neighbour that is perceived to have handled 바카라사이트 pandemic very poorly.

The report predicts that international postgraduate enrolments ¨C particularly at doctoral level ¨C will rebound strongly as current undergraduates opt to continue studying ra바카라사이트r than take 바카라사이트ir chances on a suppressed jobs market.

But international bachelor¡¯s enrolments will recover slowly, partly because final-year school exams have been postponed in many parts of 바카라사이트 world.

The report says that foreign students¡¯ interest in digital education has snowballed despite ¡°suboptimal¡± experience with university courses that were rapidly migrated online. This could open up new markets for higher education providers, particularly in ¡°바카라사이트 rising lower middle class¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com