International education

International study: smart for the student, smart for the country, says Jaclyn Hadjipieris

Governments and universities should not pass up the opportunity of educating the future leaders of other countries, which can be done by recruiting and retaining international students into their own country today. Offering international students in-depth exposure to a country's values and way of life is crucial. Students studying abroad can and hopefully will take their host country's ideas and values back to their home nation. At the same time, national students will have the opportunity to interact with a diverse student body. Students studying abroad also contribute a significant amount of money to a country's economy. In 2003/2004, international students contributed $13 billion to the United State's economy. The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are currently taking in the greatest share of the international student market. Countries will need to have a clearly articulated policy for attracting and maintaining international students to come to their country to study.

An international education policy should intend to build understanding among countries around the world to promote a world free of terrorism, expand a country's foreign policy, and enhance leadership in the world. Smooth processing of visas, accessible employment, increasing the number of locations, languages, and subjects offered by programs, producing more citizens with global skills, promoting the learning of a second language, and expanding relationships with business, educational institutions and organizations to ensure adequate resources are all necessary for implementing such a policy.

Non-traditional competitors in the student market such as Japan, Singapore, Finland, France, Germany, and Poland are offering concentrated English programs at lower costs than their US and UK counterparts. Competing institutions are increasing their capacity. They have expanded and enhanced various academic English programs to attract international students. They have adopted strategic marketing, recruitment and enrollment management plans to attract a larger share of the market. These countries are also encouraging their own students to remain at home for their higher education. Since they are now offering their own high quality programs, this idea is becoming more attractive. Also, new competitors have entered the market. The establishment of the European Union has highly impacted international education. Students from member countries can have their university course credits transferred without question to any other member country institution. The opportunity to obtain an education in English is now readily available in the EU and is being marketed.

Not only should foreign competitors' strategies be examined so that universities from other countries can improve their offerings, once foreign students enter their host country, steps should be taken to retain and support them in their new environment. Many U.S. universities for example, are taking steps to internationalize their campuses and promote the importance of an international education. This will in turn create an atmosphere of diversity which will provide national and international students alike the global skills necessary for the future.

But universities cannot fully promote international student exchange exclusively. They need the assistance of their governments as well. NAFSA: Association of International Educators, called on the President of the United States in 2003 to announce an international education policy and propose a certain amount of funding. Bringing together university presidents, academic leaders, international education professionals and business leaders would help to design specifics of a policy. Universities should act immediately with the support of their country before they are left behind by their eager competitors.

Jaclyn Hadjipieris is Admissions Representative from Richmond, The American International University in London