U.S.: New International Enrollments Dip 7 percent

According to a new survey by IIE, U.S. institutions experienced a 7 percent decline in new international student enrollments this fall. This dip can be attributed to the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant policies and messaging and resultant visa denials, high tuition rates, and increased recruitment efforts in other countries. The region that reported the largest decline, at 20 percent, is the west south central area, which includes Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, while New England experienced a 2 percent increase in new international student enrollments. See our article New Open Doors: Bracing for Changes to International Students Flows for a more in-depth analysis of new IIE data.

Inside Higher Ed
November 13, 2017

Colombia: University President Calls for Higher Ed to Lead Peacebuilding Efforts

The president of Del Rosario University, José Manuel Restrepo Abondano, stressed the importance of the role of higher education in peacebuilding at a recent event hosted by the International Centre for Higher Education Management at the University of Bath and the Society for Research into Higher Education. Adondano highlighted a lack of strategy, frameworks, and actionable research to ensure lasting peace; noting that while substantial scholarly research has focused on systemic factors that led to the extended conflict in Colombia, little is known about the motivations of those joining guerilla groups and the relationships between combatants and the general population. Despite the challenges ahead, Abondano believes Colombian universities have laid a solid foundation by focusing on inclusiveness, “responsible citizenship”, and public service.

University World News
November 11, 2017

U.S.: Appeals Court Votes to Conduct Full Hearing on Travel Ban

Three weeks after a judge in Maryland blocked the administration’s third attempt at a travel ban in October, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted to conduct a full hearing on the challenge, set to take place December 8th. This iteration of the ban would block citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and certain Venezuelans.

The Washington Post
November 8, 2017

U.S.: F-1 Students Face More Scrutiny

The state department recently updated the guidelines for consular officers issuing F-1 visas. Under the section “Examining Residence Abroad” the following language was added: “If you are not satisfied that the applicant’s present intent is to depart the United States at the conclusion of his or her study or OPT, you must refuse the visa under INA 214(b).” While this provision doesn’t signify a legal change, the increased scrutiny will likely put added pressure on students, delay processing times, and further hurt the reputation of the U.S. as a welcoming destination.

The PIE News
November 7, 2017

Canada: Number of Indian Students Surpasses 100K

The number of Indians currently studying at Canadian institutions of higher education reached 129,720 in August, according to research conducted by the Hindustan Times. Those interviewed for this article, including Canadian university administrators and immigration lawyers point to targeted recruitment campaigns, President Trump’s anti-immigration stance, and the ease of obtaining permanent residency as compared to the U.S.

The Hindustan Times
November 5, 2017

U.S. Leads in Global University Rankings

The U.S. dominated the 2018 Best Global Universities Rankings, with 221 universities represented. Harvard took the top spot, followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and University of California—Berkeley. China (136 schools) followed the U.S., Japan (76) came in third, the U.K. (73) took the fourth spot, and Germany (58) rounded out the top five. The methodology measured factors such as international collaboration and reputation.

U.S. News & World Report
October 24, 2017