1. Navigating a New Paradigm for International Student Recruitment. Report 10
- Author
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World Education Services (WES), Schulmann, Paul, and Le, Cindy
- Abstract
In the nearly two years since the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, multiple studies have documented declines in international student enrollments at U.S. institutions. Entities that track developments in higher education have reported increased enrollments in other countries, especially those where costs are lower, quality and access are on the rise, and social and political environments are more welcoming. To better understand how these shifts affect enrollments, applications, and international recruiting at U.S. institutions, the World Education Services research team surveyed more than 270 higher education professionals in early 2018. The goal was to gain evidence-based insights into changes in enrollment patterns and to develop a set of practical recommendations. Key findings include: (1) Enrollments and applications are down on the majority of campuses; (2) Most respondents felt that the political environment is a cause of their international recruitment challenges; and (3) More than a quarter of respondents reported a year-over-year increase in international applications between 2016-17 and 2017-18. Recommendations include: (1) Diversify recruitment targets; (2) Emphasize a welcoming environment; (3) Provide support and resources; (4) Engage in virtual and social media outreach; (5) Engage the alumni network for recruitment; (6) Address students' financial resources; and (7) Develop and maintain partnerships that can either provide alternative routes to recruitment or facilitate entry.
- Published
- 2018