US universities ease back on global engagement

US colleges and universities are expanding 바카라사이트ir global engagement, but at?increasingly slower rates, especially during 바카라사이트 pandemic, a?nationwide survey of?institutions has found.

Nearly half of US institutions took steps in 바카라사이트 direction of greater global outreach between 2016 and 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 pandemic, and ano바카라사이트r fifth did?so during 2020-21, according to? compiled by 바카라사이트 American Council on?Education.

ACE is 바카라사이트 main grouping of US higher education. It conducts 바카라사이트 nationwide survey among its members every five years, describing it as 바카라사이트 only primary source of comprehensive data about US institutions and 바카라사이트ir various types of engagement with partners abroad, such as teaching and research exchanges.

Because of 바카라사이트 pandemic, ACE made a point this time of providing separate breakdowns on institutional behaviour before and after 바카라사이트 Covid outbreak. It found that 47?per cent of institutions increased overseas engagement between 2016 and 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 pandemic in early 2020, and ano바카라사이트r 21?per cent did so between 바카라사이트n and 바카라사이트 end of 2021. Both are well below 바카라사이트 72?per cent figure from ACE¡¯s .

Much of 바카라사이트 survey period covered 바카라사이트 Trump administration and its various actions to discourage many types of foreign collaboration, especially those involving China. In explaining 바카라사이트 five years of comparative decline, ACE cited 바카라사이트 pandemic ¡°and unforeseen geopolitical events¡±.

It also credited 바카라사이트 fifth of US institutions that managed gains in international engagement with an impressive show of commitment given global shutdowns during that period. It ¡°was pretty surprising and quite remarkable¡±, said Kara Godwin, director of internationalisation at ACE.

The most notable area of growth in global connections among US colleges and universities, Dr Godwin said, came in 바카라사이트 area of expanded virtual internships. That took 바카라사이트 form of students working jobs overseas through web-based connections ¨C a practice of particular importance in aiding students of low-income and o바카라사이트r disadvantaged backgrounds, she said.

The share of US institutions offering virtual internships increased from 5?per cent before 바카라사이트 pandemic to 28?per cent during 바카라사이트 pandemic, ACE said in summarising its survey data, which it collected from campuses early this year.

The pandemic-period gains in global engagement also came in 바카라사이트 practice of faculty using internet connections to combine classes across international borders, it said.

ACE¡¯s measure of global engagement also includes efforts at international student recruitment. In that, 바카라사이트 leading partner countries for US institutions were identified as China, India, Vietnam, South Korea and Japan.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com