Top 12 Trending International Education News
August 6, 2020
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Roundup: ICE Visa Rules Create ‘Broader Insecurity’ For Intl Ed Sector
The Trump administration’s latest policies are leaving international students and higher education institutions scrambling to firm up fall plans, and experts say the tightening immigration restrictions will create broader insecurity for new international students and colleges. Roughly 80,000, or about 30%, of new international students, will not come to the US to study in the fall, according to the American Council on Education. Experts say travel bans, changing visa policies, increasing immigration fees, and repeated attempts to curb immigration are negatively impacting the US’ openness to international students. As schools brace for a semester without new international students, experts say any decline in the number of offshore students adds pressure to universities’ financial stress. |
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Unclear Self-isolation Guidelines Another Hurdle For Arriving International Students
International students raise logistical concerns over Canada’s latest self-isolation protocols, with many saying they are worried about the costs of getting food during isolation. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) says post-secondary institutions should consider designating single-room residences or off-campus housing for isolation purposes. The agency adds that border screening officers have the final say on whether a student’s quarantine plan is suitable for entry into Canada. Guidelines from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) say that only international students who can prove that they need to be on campus and attend in person-classes for the fall semester will be allowed to enter the country. Upon arrival to Canada, students must present border officers a plan detailing a place to stay and livelihood strategies to complete a 14-day quarantine period.
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UK Offers Grace Period For Visa Extensions Until End August
The UK government has given a one-month grace period for all expiring or expired visas of foreign nationals. This extension means that international students in the UK whose permits are due to run out by July 31 have until August 31 to make the necessary arrangements to return to their home countries. The Home Office has said that those who wish to remain in the UK for a longer time should use the grace period to apply for the necessary leave to stay. Officials add that those who intend to leave the UK but are not able to do so by August 31 may request for an ‘exception indemnity’ or additional time to stay. The government says it will continue to roll out measures to help those who have been impacted by global travel and health restrictions amid COVID-19.
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Scots Universities Could Charter Planes For Lucrative Chinese Students Amid COVID-19 Restrictions
Universities in Scotland are looking at the possibility of chartering flights to bring Chinese students in the country for the academic year. Alastair Sim, Universities Scotland director, says institutions are exploring all options to overcome logistical problems posed by the pandemic. Sim says talks are underway over the possibility of chartering flights between China, possibly India, and the UK. More than 11,500 students from China studied in Scotland between 2018 and 2019 and generated a reported £200 million (US$261.1 million) in academic fees.
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Hong Kong Student Applications To Australia Hit Three-Year High Ahead Of New Security Law
Government data reveals a more than 16% rise in the number of Hong Kong citizens applying to study at Australian universities in the first six months of 2020. The increase in Hong Kong citizens’ higher education applications came as the city was preparing to implement a new security law - a move that has raised fears over China’s broad powers to crack down on a variety of political crimes in the area. Australian universities expect a surge in visa applications from Hong Kong after the government showed support for allowing students, graduates, and workers on temporary visas to stay and work for an extra five years and apply for permanent residency after that time.
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‘NZ International Student Sector: More Focus On Quality Education Than Work Rights’ - Cabinet Papers
A Cabinet paper reveals suggestions about how the New Zealand government can leverage its handling of the pandemic to attract more offshore students and transform the country’s $5-billion international student sector. The June paper said the COVID-19 crisis provided an opportunity to shift the market to higher-value enrolments with a greater focus on academic quality and less emphasis on work rights for international students. Education leaders, meanwhile, raised concerns over how reducing students’ post-study work rights would harm enrolments. They also say that the goal of offering online courses to overseas learners was not realistic since most international students still prefer in-country classes. The New Zealand government had earlier announced a NZ$51.6 million (US$34 million) grant to the international education sector.
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‘Students Will Need COVID Tests Every 2-3 Days to Keep Campus Safe’
A new study by researchers from the Yale School of Public Health finds that college students will need to be tested for COVID-19 infection every two to three days for campuses to safely reopen this fall. The study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, explains how epidemic modeling was used to test different monitoring programs that would minimize COVID-19 cases and also maintain a college's ability to isolate and quarantine infected students. The research team says regular monitoring and testing of students for COVID-19 infection combined with frequent hand-washing, wearing masks, social distancing in classrooms and dorms, elimination of buffet dining and limited bathroom sharing will be crucial to preventing campus outbreaks.
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Struggling Language Schools Launch Bid to Bring 40,000 Foreign Students To Canada for Fall Semester
Language schools in Canada are seeking government support for the “Study Safe Corridor” - an initiative that aims to bring 40,000 international students to Canada over the next few months to learn English and French. The proposed plan will see Air Canada providing charter flights to bring COVID-screened students from countries such as Turkey, Japan, South Korea and Brazil. The organization Languages Canada says the initiative will inject $533 million of export revenue into the country’s economy by March 2021. Health experts in the country are opposing the bid, citing the surge in COVID-19 cases around the world and the health risks of bringing so many foreign nationals to Canada.
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The Queensland Government Is Offering A $150 Million 'Rescue Package' For Universities Affected By The Coronavirus
The Queensland government is offering $150 million in loans to help universities in the state that have been suffering financial losses because of the coronavirus pandemic. State premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said universities would be able to apply for loans with five-year repayment terms to support cash flow, retain workers, and maintain research projects. The Queensland university sector has said it will lose more than $1 billion this year, putting 4,000 jobs at risk. Until the pandemic hit, the international student market in the state was worth $3 billion a year.
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Fancied Your Education In The Heart of Europe? France Is All Set To Welcome Indian Students
The French government has announced that it will gradually reopen borders for offshore students. The Embassy of France in India says that as soon as conditions in the country permit, the diplomatic and consular offices will resume issuing of visas online. It means student applications for both short and long stay visas will be prioritized. The announcement comes as a relief to Indian students who had enrolled in French institutions and were waiting to leave for their study programmes. The embassy is also organizing interactive virtual pre-departure sessions - which will cover visa application procedures, accommodation, and practical advice about living in France - for Indian students heading to France for higher studies.
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Sir John Key Says Government Should 'Trial' Return Of International Students To Help Post-COVID Recovery
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Sir John Key calls for opening country borders for international students, citing that universities should extend their budgets to shoulder the quarantine costs and accommodations. At his keynote speech at the COVID-19 crisis summit in Auckland, he noted that the return of offshore students would be imperative to New Zealand's recovery after the pandemic and save the education sector from losing NZ$400 million (USD$287.2 million). His suggestion for the compromise between higher education institutions and the government begins with a trial group of a few hundred international students to build confidence in reintroducing them into campuses.
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India Set To Be A Global Education Hub: New Education Policy To Attract Foreign Students
PK Mishra, the principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, says the multidisciplinary feature of India’s New Education Policy (NEP) will attract more international students to the country. With the NEP, the government hopes to bring 200,000 international students to Indian university campuses by 2023. Mishra says the new measure will help promote India as a global study destination providing premium education at affordable costs. The official adds that with top 100 universities of the world setting up campuses in India, there will be opportunities to liberalize regulatory systems and advance core artificial intelligence research.
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Featured Institution: Parkland College, Saskatchewan
Located in Saskatchewan, Parkland College offers one of the most extensive off-campus university programs in the area. As the only college in Saskatchewan to provide a full-time firefighting program, it has a wide array of diploma, certificate, apprenticeship, adult primary education and university transfer programs. Students here get to explore opportunities in agriculture, kinesiology, police studies and more. The college aims to be the province’s leading provider of high quality, learner-centric education and training. It is also home to a growing international student body, with students from countries such as Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Fiji, Jamaica, India, Mauritius, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Ukraine, and Vietnam. International students get to enjoy benefits like on-site support services, direct entry into Saskatchewan Polytechnic or Conestoga programs, and hospitality and employment opportunities.
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Featured Program: Clean Energy Technology and Entrepreneurship at Shoreline Community College
The solar energy market is powered by increasing demand from manufacturing industries worldwide for efficient energy flow. Through the Clean Energy Technology and Entrepreneurship program, Shoreline Community College trains individuals to master clean energy fundamentals while gaining knowledge of sustainable business practices and entrepreneurship. Students learn how to apply sustainable business practices to business models involving clean energy technology. The program involves practical design projects and hands-on training activities that enable students to read, visualize, and interpret building plans and models including architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical components that affect building energy requirements. Founded in 1964, Shoreline Community College offers more than 100 rigorous academic and professional/technical degrees and certificates. The school serves over 10,000 students who hail from across the United States and over 50 countries.
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International Education Conferences & Workshops |
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The power of place
September 1-2, 2020, Online
September 11-13, 2020 in Brussels, Belgium
October 2, 2020, Online
Inspiring thought leaders in international education
October 5-8, 2020, Online
October 29-30, 2020, Online
October 30 to November 2, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan
November 16-20, 2020, Online
Crossing boundaries, unlocking creativity
May 31 to June 3, 2021 in Aichi, Japan
September 13-16, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain
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