With the 43-percent decline in the number of new international students enrolling in U.S. universities this year, education experts believe the new administration must do something to address this slide. Pundits believe that the incoming administration should prioritize the development and implementation of a national strategy to convey a welcoming atmosphere for international students. A key pillar of this strategy should be to rescind deeply harmful proclamations and executive orders that have had a chilling effect on incoming foreign students. International students have had a huge economic impact even amid the pandemic, contributing $38.7 billion to the U.S. economy this year and supporting nearly half a million jobs.

The federal government of Canada has recently released the list of designated learning institutions approved to reopen to international students. This means they will now be able to cross the border more easily and enter the country as long as they have a valid study permit and a letter proving their university or college is on the list of designated learning institutions approved for their COVID-19 readiness plan. Even though the next semester is still online, many international students already want to go back to their campus and resume their studies.

With the recent announcement of the post-Brexit fees, many international students are now discouraged to enroll in UK universities for the next semesters. According to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), there has already been a drop in EU students applying. The numbers are now down from 6,480 last year to 5,220 this year. The Brexit fee includes a student visa fee of about £350 (around $470) while about £500 ($670) will be used for the state-run National Health Service. Brexit will also affect opportunities for students to move freely for academic purposes.

Although Brexit poses significant challenges in many different ways, it also provides an opportunity for Ireland in higher education and research. Ireland predicts Brexit will allow the country to attract students currently based in the UK to come and work in an open environment that is part of the EU. Ireland also now plans to make their visa and immigration rules more attractive for international students when the Brexit transition ends. The country strategizes to be the bridge between the European Union and the United States and the rest of the world in the development and regulation of new technologies and as the global center for learning.

Victoria is under increasing pressure to outline its plans for the return of international students for the 2021 academic year, as billions of dollars in lost revenue hangs in the balance. The state failed to meet a November 30 deadline set by the Federal Education Ministry to detail its plans to bring back foreign students. Last year, more than 200,000 international students from 170 countries lived in Melbourne, contributing $13.7 billion in export revenue to Victoria’s reserves. But the number of international students in Melbourne is now about half last year’s levels – with no clear pathway for their return.

The New Zealand government has announced a new deal to attract a cohort of foreign students who will be ready to enter the country when the borders open. Foreign students were New Zealand's fifth-largest export-earner before the pandemic, spending more than $5 billion a year in foreign exchange. They have been unable to enter the country since the borders shut in March. In line with the current initiative, universities had identified 195 Ph.D. students who fit the criteria and might be able to return to New Zealand soon. Opening up this pathway provides a recruitment opportunity for New Zealand universities and gives international students a chance to start their studies in their own countries.

 Radio New Zealand

Some international students in the UK have revealed their battle with mental health due to universities being closed during the lockdowns. Away from their families, international students have felt distressed by all the adjustments they need to do as face-to-face learning suddenly became unable. The delayed registration and the lack of human interac­tion also took a toll on the mental health of some students. On the other hand, UK Universities have claimed that throughout the pandemic, universities have been work­ing around the clock supporting students who have remained in the UK and those due to start their studies later this year.

Following the success of its initial pilot that facilitated the return of 63 international students to Darwin, Australia is now holding discussions to organize further flights in the first six months of next year. One of the flights is set to bring back students stranded in India. In 2019, Australia hosted over 750,000 international students, comprising around 15% of total enrollments. Many of these students are now stranded offshore and living in constant anxiety in the absence of a formidable plan to bring them back. South Australia, meanwhile, has signaled that it would bring in a large number of students through the course of next year, starting with an initial pilot that will facilitate the return of up to 300 students to Adelaide.

 

The Australian university sector faces backlash over its harsh treatment of overseas students during the pandemic. As reported, some universities did not extend its COVID-19 wage subsidy scheme to foreign students. This decision has caused a crisis for some of the 500,000 student visa holders. Now that universities are moving to entice foreign students back, some of them are hesitating because of the struggles of those who stayed in the country. Critics warn that the backlash on the harsh treatment of foreign students during the pandemic would mean Australia will struggle to retain its position as the world’s third-biggest international education market.

A federal judge has upheld the Optional Practical Training (OPT) against the lawsuit that aims to declare the program illegal and end the work-permit program immediately. Tech giants Google, Apple, Facebook, Uber, Tesla, HP, Oracle, and Salesforce had joined the fight, seeking to protect the Optional Practical Training program which is often used as a path to an H-1B visa. OPT has been in place in various forms since 1947, to give international student graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math fields, a chance for employment of up to three years.

The UK government guarantees that visa processes will remain flexible for Indian students studying in the country. To provide further support to international students, the British Council also works closely with parents, agents, and counselors in India to understand their concerns during the pandemic. Part of the initiative is a survey that reveals 65 percent of Indian undergraduates who plan to study in the UK next year are not likely to cancel or delay their plans. In return, the UK government has confirmed that new international students starting their degree in 2021 will remain eligible for a Tier 4 study visa even if they begin their studies through remote learning.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced that it will not be making any changes to school fees for Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and students from ASEAN. However, there will be an increase of about 3 percent in fees for non-ASEAN foreign students in government and government-aided schools that will take effect in January 2021. International students will pay $25 to $50 more per month. 

Located on a 100-acre campus in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Presentation College is home to over 600 students. It offers undergraduate programs focused on Health and Natural Sciences, Nursing, and Social & Behavioral Sciences. Presentation College is rated as the most diverse college campus in South Dakota. Its South Dakota campus is also considered the second-best small college town in the United States and part of the top 8% of the safest campuses in the country. Presentation College has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1971.