Top 12 Trending International Education News
July 29, 2021
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US Renews Commitment to International Students and Presence on “World Stage”
The US government has announced a “renewed commitment” to promote the United States as a study destination for international students as well as the benefits of global academic engagement. This statement by the State and Education departments is a reaction to last year’s decline in international student interest to study in the US due to the previous administration’s unwelcoming policies. In the 2021 Education USA Forum, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said the US cannot afford to be absent from the world stage and so it will pursue initiatives that will make the country a home for international talents despite the challenges of the pandemic.
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English Language Schools Hope Travel Opens Up Soon
Enrollment at English language schools and cultural exchange programs in Canada has seen a steep decline due to ongoing pandemic restrictions. Many international students have been unable to go to the country or have chosen not to go because of isolation requirements. Officials say that the rigid travel and quarantine requirements are dissuading foreign learners from traveling to Canada. Despite the downtrend, English language schools have managed to operate online.
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Universities Skeptical About Idea of Making Students Prove Vaccine Status
Student unions such as the National Union of Students in England are questioning the effectiveness of the proposed requirement of vaccination certificates. Yet to be announced, the idea will require students to show a vaccination certificate when coming back for face-to-face classes. While it is in part aimed at boosting vaccination rates among young people, some groups think such a move is “lining students up as scapegoats for its own failings.”
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Malta Flies Home COVID-positive Language Students Amid Surge
Due to a recent spike in new cases, Malta’s Health Ministry has decided to close language schools. Meanwhile, students who tested positive were sent home through repatriated flights. The Malta Tourism Authority covered the cost of the flights while health officials helped in organizing it. Nearly 200 students who tested negative have flown home via Rome, Frankfurt, Paris, and Madrid.
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Hopes for Overseas Student Pilot Program
Australia’s Education Minister Alan Tudge has expressed hope that previously approved pilot programs aimed at bringing in a small cohort of international students such as the one for South Australia will push through. However, he concedes that outbreaks of the Delta variant in South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria may derail or delay the execution of these programs. He stresses that the focus continues to be on protecting the health of Australians.
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Stressful Wait for International Students Stuck Overseas During COVID-19
While most international students stuck overseas due to the pandemic have been forced to change their plans, the New Zealand government has prioritized the return of students who have already started their programs. Although this relieves some of the stress for shortlisted students, New Zealand institutions worry about the economic impact of the lack of new students coming down the pipeline. Institutions such as Massey University offer online classes and support to help stranded students continue their studies.
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COVID is Not Stopping Students from Going Overseas to Study, Report Shows
A survey by edutech company Cialfo of high school students from more than 100 countries indicates continuing interest in international education. About 60% of respondents report that the coronavirus pandemic has not affected their plans to study abroad. However, the US and Australia still experienced a drop in student numbers. The survey also revealed increased anxiety over how the pandemic will affect their international education experience with online-only options.
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CSIS Warns Canadian Universities to be on Alert for International Espionage
To protect Canadian research from possible threats such as compromises in intellectual property and the presence of foreign agents in labs, the Center for Strategic and International Studies or CSIS advises universities and researchers to stay alert for international espionage. Last year, the CSIS already convened 230 Canadian research and industry groups and briefed more than 2,000 individuals regarding this. The warning also aims to require high scrutiny on potential theft of dual-use technology which can have potential military applications, as well as artificial intelligence and quantum technology.
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China Maintains Ambiguous Stance on Indian Students' Return Citing COVID-19 Protocols
China remains ambivalent about permitting the return of over 23,000 Indian students studying medicine in the country. This is amid reports that Beijing is allowing students from South Korea and the US to return. China is reportedly relaxing its travel rules to some countries on bilateral understanding by following certain COVID-19 protocols while blocking the return of students from the vast majority of countries from Asia and Africa. Officials say China has to permit the return of foreign students either by September this year or by April 2022 at the beginning of the new academic year.
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Japan Tightens Visa Criteria for Foreign Students to Stop Military-Related Technology Drain
Japan will tighten immigration screening standards for foreign students to prevent the drain of technologies that could be used for military purposes. Before the new measures were introduced, Japanese universities reported to the Immigration Services Agency necessary information such as prospective student's occupation, educational background, and their means to make payments related to studying in Japan. Under the new regulations, Immigration will collect information about students’ entire academic history, work experiences, sources of finance, and check on any ties with military-related firms.
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At least 3 Hong Kong Universities Make National Security Education Compulsory for Students
Students from at least three publicly funded Hong Kong universities will have to learn about national security as a compulsory requirement in the new academic year. Baptist University, Polytechnic University, and Lingnan University announced that all undergraduates including international students admitted from September must undergo national security education in the form of seminars and talks as a requirement for graduation. They will be required to take a mandatory course to learn about legal issues related to the topic as well as attend talks and seminars about Hong Kong’s development.
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High Public Health Insurance Fees May Discourage Foreigners from Studying in S. Korea: Study
Based on a new report, some 150,000 foreign students currently in South Korea have been paying 43,490 won per month (US$37.80) since March this year, after the government enacted legislation requiring foreign students to be covered by the National Health Insurance plan. The fees were comparatively higher to neighboring countries. International students in Japan only pay around 20,000 won, and 30,000 won in Taiwan. Universities argue that South Korea needs to bring down the price of public health insurance to attract more foreign learners into the country.
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Featured Institution: Hawaii Pacific University
The Hawai’i Pacific University (HPU) is the state’s largest and most culturally diverse private university serving over 3,000 mainland students and foreign learners from over 65 countries. HPU offers over 40 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in the field of arts, education, business, communications, engineering, and sciences. The university also offers top-quality online programs. Its online MBA programs are recognized as some of the best in the United States. With the university’s core values anchored on excellence and diversity, international students will find the warmth of a true culturally welcoming institution in HPU.
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Featured Program: Higher Diploma in Science in Data Analytics for Business
This post-graduate program allows learners to sharpen their analytical, technical, and numerical abilities. The Higher Diploma in Science in Data Analytics for Business program also trains postgraduate students to better understand and interpret data that will effectively inform decision-making. Throughout the program, students will learn about strategic thinking concepts and the practical principles based on Problem Reduction Identification and Solution Mapping (PRISM), discernment of statistical techniques for data analysis, and competent approaches to machine learning. The program prepares postgraduate learners for globally competitive roles such as financial analyst, market research analyst, product manager, digital marketing manager, and healthcare analyst.
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International Education Conferences & Workshops
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Toronto, Canada
August 31 to September 2, 2021
September 14 - 16, 2021 (Online)
October 18 to 22, 2021 (Online)
November 15 to 19, 2021 (Online)
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December 1 to 3, 2021 in New Zealand
December 8 - 12, 2021 in Miami, Florida
Education: building forward; stronger, bolder.
January 16 to 19, 2022
September 13-16, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain
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