Top 12 Trending International Education News
March 11 , 2020
[COVID-19 Roundup] Travel Bans Continue, Study Abroad Programs Reach A Halt, And Impact Goes Beyond Health And Finance 

The spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to affect education worldwide, with the World Health Organization (WHO) recently declaring it a pandemic. 

Universities lose millions as travel bans prevent foreign students from leaving their countries and international enrollment continues to drop. Schools also have to deal with the cancellation of study-abroad programs, adoption of measures for international students who cannot go home and thus need financial aid, and implementation of measures for people who might have been infected.

More than the financial and health impact of the virus, a growing number of experts and leaders are concerned with its psychological effect on people since anxiety and fear over the outbreak may lead to racism. 
Shortage Of Seafarers Opens The Door For New Recruits

Canada faces a growing need for workers in the shipping industry. The need is set to increase within the next few years since current workers are about to retire. This is why technical and community colleges are actively recruiting students worldwide to be trained and fill the gap in the workforce. An official of the NSCC’s Nautical Institute shares that the demand for certified professionals is so high that even first-year students are already eyed by companies to be future workers.  
CBC
Quitting EU Erasmus Scheme Would 'Blow A Hole' In UK Economy

As the UK transitions out of its membership in the European Union (EU), some education and business leaders caution the country to think twice about quitting the EU Erasmus student exchange program. UK’s membership to Erasmus+ expires at the end of 2020. The leaders point out that UK students who join the Erasmus program, especially those from disadvantaged communities, gain valuable study and work experience. The program also adds about £243m every year to the country’s economy.
Want To Stop Climate Change? Educate Girls

Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai are proof that when girls get an education, they can solve the biggest problems of the world, including climate change. Education opens the door for women to earn money for their families, learn how to mitigate disasters, and acquire political positions and leadership roles that allow them to make policy changes. Government and non-government organizations are working together to expand the access of girls to education across the globe.
Thousands Of Students Apply For Hardship Funds To Help Pay For Rising Rents

On-campus rents in universities across Ireland have increased, leading to thousands of students applying for financial aid from the Student Assistance Fund. So far, 14,000 students have been given €9 million for the current academic year, where the funds can be used for rent, electric bills, food, childcare, medical, and travel expenses. The issue affects a broad spectrum of students ranging from domestic to international students. While there is a view that foreign students are wealth or cash cows for institutions, many have actually taken out big loans to study abroad and have limited opportunities in the host country to work and make money. 
6 Ways Universities Are Responding To Coronavirus

The COVID-19 pandemic affects multiple aspects of the school life and community, and there are a variety of ways to mitigate these effects. Conduct online classes. Cancel all travels, including study-abroad programs and international meetings. Provide extra service for Chinese students, whether they are in China or in the US. Continuously give updates to students, parents, staff, and faculty. Plan for bigger and longer disruptions to students’ schooling. Use the outbreak as a jump-off point for lessons.
NPR
The Soft Power Of Education

Australia has long considered education a powerful tool to build its soft power, which uses positive measures to achieve the country’s foreign policy objectives. This is opposed to military or economic measures that make use of hard power. The country has a long history of attracting foreign students, including through the Colombo Plan approved in the 1950s which granted scholarships to Asian international students. However, this soft power is under threat with budget cuts and educational technology like distance learning. Australia must find ways to keep attracting foreign students and convince Australians to stay and study in the country.
The Struggle To Belong At School: Australia Bombs In Student Satisfaction

For international students, a sense of belonging is essential, whether in a small organization or the bigger university community. Belonging promotes positive feelings of satisfaction, happiness, self-esteem, friendship, and cooperation. Australia is known for being open to and actively attracting foreign students. However, the recent Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) gives Australia a grade of "F" for student belonging, meaning international students do not feel like they belong in their universities. For Australia to continue being a prime destination of foreign students, schools should implement measures to address this important issue.
Turkish Bodies Sign Protocol For Foreign Students

Turkey has 172,000 international students and targets this number to increase to 250,000 by 2023. To help these students connect with the country’s business world, the country’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) and Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) have approved a protocol that will provide jobs to international students. The protocol also aims to strengthen Turkey’s economic and trade relations with other countries, which will benefit foreign students.
The Kula Manu Adds New Foreign Language Category And Encourages Students To Submit Their Work

International students provide diversity to the universities they attend. On the other hand, schools have many ways to celebrate and highlight the different backgrounds and cultures of these students. Brigham Young University, Hawaii’s annual literary magazine, has chosen to accept submissions in the mother tongue of international students. This showcases the writing talent of the school’s foreign students while highlighting their lives on campus.

New Mexico State To Drop Intensive English Program

New Mexico State University has announced that it will end a non-credit intensive English program by May 15. This decision is based on the decrease in the number of international students enrolling in the university because of the travel bans implemented by certain countries as well as intense competition. The university also plans to restructure its international programs. The move comes shortly after the Chronicles of Higher Education reported the number of new students from abroad to the U.S. has fallen 10 percent since 2015 amid the travel ban, shifts in visa policy, and increased competition from other countries. In recent years, New Mexico State has had a taste of decline in enrollment and revenue from tuition and research funds at the land grant university.

[Student Features] Pangs of Sadness As Taiwanese Int’l Student Graduates; From Iran To The US; and Honors Program Event Focuses On Foreign Student Stories

International students face different hurdles. On top of a new educational system, they have to deal with an unfamiliar language, culture shock, new food, and the loneliness that comes from being far away from family and friends. Pennsylvania College of Technology student Po-Ju Sung shares how he has overcome his homesickness and the sadness that grips him as he graduates while considering his university his second home.

Dorsa Derakhshani is a chess master from Iran who is a third-year Saint Louis University scholar. She is one of several female Iranian chess players who have chosen to immigrate to a foreign country to be able to freely study and express their personal opinions. Some of them have decided to leave Iran for safety.

Generally, school activities involving international students focus on introducing the host country’s culture to the foreign students. Penn State Scranton’s Honors Program has flipped this usual practice with its recent event, which features presentations from four international students from Haiti, Egypt, Vietnam, and Israel. The students are given the chance to introduce the difference between their home country’s education system and America’s. 
In case you missed it...
MSM has an exclusive interview with Prof. Sarah Todd, President of the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) . She talks about the postponement of the APAIE 2020 Conference and Exhibition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also shares her insights on how international education and higher education institutions can tackle the challenges that the outbreak is bringing to the education industry.
Featured Institution: Red Deer College

Red Deer College (RDC) is a public community college in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. It was established in 1964 and, within several decades, has become one of the largest schools in the province. It offers more than 75 programs including certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates, applied degrees, and pathway options. The programs span several industries including legal, early childhood education, engineering, arts and theater, sports, and health. The focus of each program is to train students to be successful in their chosen professions. In 2018, RDC began its transition to become a university and has recently partnered with MSM for its dedicated recruitment initiatives in India and different parts of the globe. The campus offers amenities that meet the needs of students, including trails, ski hills, and golf courses so students can find serenity even in the middle of the busy Alberta city.

Featured Program: Automotive Engineering Graduate Program

Nagoya University’s Automotive Engineering Graduate Program combines courses on a range of engineering specializations, from mechanical to electrical to computer engineering. Experts from the field and other universities share their high-level knowledge and vision with students. The program also offers an international internship that allows students to immerse themselves in real-world automotive companies. Thus, students are trained to become engineering leaders who create research that improves the efficiency, sustainability, and technology of automobiles and other modes of transportation.
International Education Conferences & Workshops
March 13-15 in Bali, Indonesia

Overcoming Challenges of Access & Opportunity in Education Abroad
March 17-19, 2020 in New Orleans, LA, USA

March 25-27, 2020 in Kansas City, MO, USA (Going Online)

April 3-5 in Bangkok, Thailand

April 4-5, 2020 in New Haven, Connecticut, USA (Going Online)

Making a Difference
April 22-24, 2020 in Prague, Czech Republic

May 24-29, 2020 in St. Louis, MO, USA

May 29-31 in Brussels, Belgium

Crossing boundaries, unlocking creativity
June 2-4, 2020 in Nagoya, Japan

Internship Ability: Accessibility, Scalability, Sustainability
June 9-12, 2020 in Vancouver, Canada

June 9-12, 2020 in Vancouver, Canada

June 22-23, 2020 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Local impact, global influence
June 24-26, 2020 in Moscow, Russia

June 29-30, 2020 in London, UK

Crossing Borders, Connecting Cultures
June 30-July 2, 2020 in Luxembourg
 
Imagining Our Reach: Elevating the Enduring Impact of Education Abroad
July 22-24, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

August 11-12, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand

The power of place
September 1-3, 2020 in Toronto, Canada

September 15-18, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain

November 15-18, 2020 in Ontario, Canada
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