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COVID-19 has had devastating effects on the financial well-being of many recent immigrants, temporary foreign workers, and international students in Canada. Migrants--regardless of their immigration status--are overrepresented in essential roles and industries that have been hardest hit. To better understand the impact of the pandemic on these groups, WES conducted surveys in April, June, and August 2020 of applicants who received a WES credential evaluation for the purpose of immigrating to Canada. The resulting report is based on the responses of nearly 5,000 permanent residents, temporary foreign workers, and international students who resided in Canada at the time of the surveys.

In order to provide institutions with more insight into student experiences and perspectives on their careers and the preparation they received on campus--and to promote discussions about how such students' might be better served--the research team at World Education Services (WES) conducted a survey of both current international students and international alumni of U.S. higher education institutions. In June 2017, researchers surveyed some 2,162 former WES applicants for foreign credential evaluation, including 1,067 current students and 1,095 alumni. Researchers set out to answer three main questions: (1) What are the career aspirations of international students and international alumni of U.S. higher education institutions (HEIs), and how do those influence their decision to study in the United States?; (2) What are the career outcomes of international alumni who have graduated from U.S. institutions?; and (3) How can international students' experiences with career service offices and related support services on U.S. campuses be improved? Key findings include: (1) The vast majority of both current international students and international alumni believe that their U.S. education was a good investment; (2) International students say that credential recognition outside of the United States was one factor they considered when deciding to study in the U.S.; (3) Overall, employment outcomes for alumni are good, but there are areas that could use improvement; (4) Post-graduation work-training programs in the United States, for instance Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Academic Training, were viewed positively; (5) Alumni in the U.S. use a variety of forms of work authorization, despite the challenges in obtaining work permits. Others leave due to difficulty obtaining work permits; (6) Usage of and satisfaction with career services offices was uneven; and (7) Most international students came to the U.S. with at least some experience and gained more while studying.

For higher education personnel who serve international students, understanding the student experience--and doing so holistically--is critical. To shed light on how institutions can better meet a range of needs among students from different parts of the globe, the research team at World Education Services (WES) conducted a study of international students' experiences at U.S. institutions. In May 2016, researchers surveyed some 4,683 WES former applicants for foreign credential evaluation. The vast majority were either current students at U.S. institutions, or graduates from as far back as 2010. Key findings include: (1) International students are seeking high quality programs that can help them kickstart their careers; (2) Not all international student groups have the same experience of U.S. education; (3) International students are satisfied with some aspects of their academic experience, but research opportunities are lacking; (4) International students who are satisfied and view their education as a good investment are often willing brand ambassadors; (5) International students face challenges in building strong social networks; and (6) Key services and supports for international students can be improved.