Top 12 Trending International Education News
Nov 12, 2020
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Foreign Students Look Forward to Visa Stability
International students across universities and colleges in the United States are fervently hoping that President-elect Joe Biden will help stabilize their stay in the country. Among the concerns that greatly need to be addressed are the issues surrounding student visa applications and the limitations on the length of stay allowed for foreign students after graduation. These were some of the factors that have made their student lives stressful in the last four years. With Biden’s win, students see relief as they are expecting that his policies will be less xenophobic. Although they do not expect that he will impose drastic changes on visa privileges, international students are at peace that Biden will not come up with harsh policies that will make their lives even more difficult.
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How the Pandemic Has Disrupted the Lives of International Students in Canada
Uncertainties surround the lives of international students in Canada amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether students choose to stay in the country or fly back to their homeland, they still have to deal with the huge challenge of how they can continue with their education. Those who opted to remain in Canada now struggle financially as they have lost their part-time jobs and the abrupt increase in tuition fees is making the situation worse. On the other hand, those who flew out of the country face the challenges of remote learning and many of them want to return but the existing immigration and travel restrictions hinder them from doing so. And with the traditional education-to-citizenship pathway severely disrupted by the pandemic, international students are feeling the uncertainty of their future.
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International Students in Cardiff React to the End of Firebreak Lockdown
The end of Cardiff’s firebreak lockdown is the green light that international students have been waiting for to get back some normalcy in their social life. Many students are elated by the Welsh government’s announcement that allows socializing in small numbers. The relaxed restrictions mean foreign students can now meet their friends and course mates. Observing the safety protocols, international students can now catch up with their friends through simple social activities that bring a huge positive impact on their mental health.
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Wings Clipped: Overseas Student Applications 'Nosedive'
Student visa applications in Australia have plummeted by 80% since the closing of its borders in March due to the spiraling cases of COVID-19. Data show that almost 135,000 foreign students are still enrolled in Australia schools but are attending classes remotely from their home countries. Reports note a significant drop of 75,000 in onshore students. University officials foresee that this dramatic slump in student applications will affect the sector for at least two years, as fewer students are expected to replace those who will soon be graduating. Complicating things even more is the fact that the reduction in international students living in Australia will affect the many Australian jobs and businesses that rely on international education.
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COVID-19 Coronavirus: Border Closure Bites as Queen St Schools and Shops Close
The diminishing number of international students is taking a toll on businesses, particularly in Auckland’s Queen St, as students leave New Zealand and return home amid the pandemic. Even though many of the New Zealanders are returning to the city after the COVID lockdowns, the pedestrian count is still low due to a drop-off in tourists and international students because of the border closure. Institutions engaged in providing international education are feeling the crunch as well and they believe that this trend will continue unless New Zealand finally decides to reopen.
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Foreign Students Can Now Apply Online for French Residency Cards
For the first time, France has opened an online process to allow foreign students to apply or renew residency permits. With this service, students will now be able to apply for a residency permit from the comfort of their homes. This is a boon for international students who no longer have to make an appointment at the prefecture or travel a long way to ensure that their application is submitted. Students who participated in the dry-run for the online portal describe the system as user-friendly and tremendously helpful for people who don’t speak French fluently.
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More International Students Were Coming to US Universities — Then COVID Hit
Although enrollment in US graduate programs by international students grew in 2019 after a two-year dip, latest figures show that this growth has stopped. Just like virtually everything else in the world today, the ongoing pandemic has emerged as the main culprit for the halted growth. Existing visa restrictions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic has dissuaded foreign students from returning to American universities. Although figures for 2020 are not yet available, experts expect the decline to persist until 2021, even after the end of the previous administration and its tight visa policies.
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US Visas for Chinese Students Have All But Dried Up
The number of visas issued to Chinese students in the United States has dropped by 99% amid the ongoing pandemic compounded by political tension between the US and China. Many Chinese students attending US colleges have opted to stay in their home country for this semester. The decrease poses a huge financial threat to American universities, since most international students pay full tuition compared to their American counterparts who often get financial aid. In the academic year 2018-19, Chinese students alone have paid an estimated $15 billion in tuition payments to US colleges. The drop in the number of Chinese students is also expected to negatively impact the US economy.
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COVID to Halve International Student Numbers in Australia By Mid-2021 – It’s Not Just Unis That Will Feel Their Loss
A huge downturn in Australia’s enrollment numbers is expected to continue until the middle of the upcoming year. It is estimated that there will be more than 300,000 fewer international students, corresponding to half of pre-pandemic numbers, who will be in Australia by mid-2021 if travel restrictions are not lifted. Very few new students come into Australia even as old students finish their courses. Many of the old students are also bound to leave Australia and will just do remote learning outside the country. This problem is worrying not just educational institutions but also businesses as international students contribute substantially to the economy as consumers of goods and services while they live in the country. To reverse the downward swing in international enrollment, trials are being planned to help bring back students to the country sooner.
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International Students Spend Millions in State
A Hawai’i national economic report reveals that $381.2 million worth of economic output -- in terms of direct, indirect and induced spending -- has been generated from international students living in the state in 2019. On average, each student spends $13,838 annually. The positive impact from international students enables more than 3,000 jobs and contributes to over $29 million in state taxes. Tourism and economic research officials are optimistic that more students from overseas will come to Hawai’i to study once the pandemic is controlled.
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Free Supermarket Feeds 2000 International Students a Week
Around 2,000 international students across Melbourne benefit weekly from the free supermarket drive organized by the non-government organization Foodbank. There are more than 100,000 international students who were left behind in Melbourne after borders were shut due to the pandemic. With casual work getting harder to come by and without any federal government support for foreign students, many struggle financially. This is why Foodbank’s free weekly supermarket has become a valuable initiative to help stranded international students get by during the ongoing health crisis.
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How COVID-19 Has — And Hasn’t — Changed Chinese Students’ Plans for International Education
As many countries remain closed due to the ongoing pandemic, Chinese students enrolled in overseas universities are now rethinking their education plans. Some students now plan to begin their university education in China and eventually transfer to schools overseas once the pandemic is over. Others have opted to enroll in online programs offered by foreign schools as they see this as an opportunity to still be exposed to different cultures abroad. University officials believe that the impact of COVID-19 on Chinese international students will last at least a few years, but the choices the students have made this year will have far-reaching implications for universities in foreign countries and for higher education in China.
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Featured Institution: University of Charleston
Located in West Virginia, University of Charleston (UC) is the largest and fastest-growing private non-profit institution in the region. It caters to students from all 55 West Virginia counties and 40 states across the United States, and to foreign students from 45 countries. Top undergraduate programs offered by the institution are interior design, radiologic science, sports administration, education, communications, accounting, nursing, and athletic training. UC is also open to graduate students who are interested in pursuing further education in the areas of business administration and pharmaceutical & healthcare management. UC proudly affords home-like community to international students as the most diverse campus in the entire state of West Virginia. At UC, the global community is supported with inclusive programs and dedicated ESL courses helpful for a more comfortable education experience.
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Featured Program: Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Management
Developed through a partnership with some of the world’s biggest companies, this course is designed to equip students with IT skills paired with high-grade business knowledge. The program aims to teach students strategies on how to maximize technology to upgrade business performance by allowing ideas to be tested on real business projects. Graduates of the program are granted the opportunity to work with the university’s partner companies. Potential roles range from management or consultancy positions in telecommunications, banking, marketing, and technology companies to working in IT departments of large businesses. University of the West England (UWE) is one of the largest and most popular universities in the United Kingdom. With state-of-the-art facilities and technology, UWE maintains its status as among the top providers of highly respected courses and employment-enhancing opportunities to local and international students.
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International Education Conferences & Workshops |
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November 16-20, 2020, Online
November 30 - December 11, 2020, online
January 6-10, 2021, in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
April 6-8, 2021, in Bangkok, Thailand
Crossing boundaries, unlocking creativity
May 31 to June 3, 2021 in Aichi, Japan
September 13-16, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain
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