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November 17, 2021
U.S. Colleges and Universities Remain Top Choice for International Students
• Higher education institutions across all U.S. states and territories welcomed more than 914,000 international students for academic study during the 2020/21 academic year.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2021 — The ‘Open Doors’ 2021 Report on International Educational Exchange, released today, underscores the continued commitment of students and scholars, U.S. higher education, governmental partners, and industry stakeholders to international educational exchange amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Open Doors 2021 report, released by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education (IIE), has been an essential benchmark for international educational exchange to the U.S. for over 70 years. In the 2020/21 academic year, the Open Doors report included international students enrolled at U.S. higher education institutions in the United States and online from abroad and those on Optional Practical Training (OPT). ‘Open Doors’ is a comprehensive information resource on international students studying at U.S. higher education institutions and U.S. students studying abroad for academic credit.
In the 2020/21 academic year, 914,095 international students pursued studies at U.S. colleges and universities, a decrease of 15% from the previous academic year. However, these students represented 5% of all students in U.S. higher education and, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, contributed $39 billion to the U.S. economy in 2020.
• U.S. remained open to international students during the COVID-19 pandemic
More than 710,000 international students enrolled at the undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree levels from more than 200 places of origin. In addition, more than 200,000 international students pursued OPT, a welcome opportunity for students to gain practical work experiences in the U.S. after academic study.
The COVID-19 global pandemic primarily impacted international students studying at a U.S. university for the first time or new international students.
International students already enrolled at U.S. universities or continuing students largely remained committed to their U.S. education experience. “International students are central to the free flow of ideas, innovation, economic prosperity, and peaceful relations between nations,” said Matthew Lussenhop, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. “As reiterated in the recent Joint Statement of Principles in Support of International Education by the U.S. Departments of State and Education, the United States is strongly committed to international education as we continue to build back better.”
• Chinese, Indian students continue to seek an American education.
Chinese and Indian students continued to pursue their education at U.S. institutions in large numbers. While both groups declined this year (by 14.8% and 13.2%, respectively), they did so by less than the overall rate, illustrating the strength and appeal a U.S. education holds in both countries. All places of origin and regions saw declines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa saw relatively more minor declines, with potential ease of access to the U.S. during the pandemic and the ability to begin or continue programs virtually within a similar time zone as many U.S. institutions.
“U.S. colleges and universities remained open and welcoming in the face of COVID-19 challenges and well prepared for what’s ahead,” said IIE Chief Executive Officer Allan E. Goodman. “The Open Doors 2021 report gives us all a benchmark to gauge the progress we are making to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.” The Institute of International Education (IIE), established in 1919, is a global not-for-profit that creates and implements international education programs, conducts research, and provides life-changing opportunities for students and scholars worldwide.
• Studying abroad is as important as ever
The COVID-19 global pandemic affected U.S. study abroad programs across the country and all international destinations, resulting in a 53% decline overall. In the 2019/20 academic year, 162,633 American students studied abroad for academic credit.
European countries remain the most popular destination for American students, welcoming more than half (58%) of U.S. study abroad students. However, some of these countries were also the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020. As a result, these programs saw declines of 41% to 53%. Americans studied in more than 180 countries and had a presence on every continent, including Antarctica. In addition to the 162,633 U.S. students who received academic credit for study abroad in 2019/20, 252 institutions reported that an additional 11,256 U.S. students participated in non-credit work, internships, volunteering, and research abroad.
“Our commitment to Americans studying abroad is a commitment to our collective future,” said Ethan Rosenzweig, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Academic Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. “As ‘study abroad’ slowly returns, we must recommit ourselves to ensuring that study abroad becomes ever more accessible to, and reflective of, the rich diversity of the United States.” The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs builds relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through academic, cultural, sports, professional and private exchanges, as well as public-private partnerships and mentoring programs.
• U.S. Institutions Report International Student Surge for Fall 2021
Following a challenging year in international educational exchange, the findings of the 2021 Fall International Student Enrollment Snapshot reflect the resilience of U.S. higher education institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Higher education institutions reported a 68% increase in the number of new international students enrolling for the first time at a U.S. institution, a notable surge from the 46% decline reported in Fall 2020.
Source: Institute of International Education
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:19 AM | Link to this Post
