Higher Edge: Institutions: Publications: Not-So-Foreign©, Volume 7, Issue 41

Not-So-Foreign^©
A Bulletin for International Education Professionals
Volume 7, Issue 41; December 3, 2008

1) THE PLAYING FIELD – Chinese Economics Bring Students to America in Record Numbers
2) ABROAD PERSPECTIVE - Canada to Fast-Track Immigration for Students
3) OVER THE COUNTER - New Zealand Bounces Back
4) GLOBE TIPPING – Safety from Terrorist Attacks

1) THE PLAYING FIELD – Chinese Economics Bring Students to America in Record Numbers

Enrollments of Chinese students at American universities grew by 20 per cent between 2007 and 2008, reaching an all-time high of 81,127 according to the “Open Doors” report released recently by the Institute of International Education.

One IIE official said one reason for the dramatic growth could be that many Chinese no longer believe that a U.S. student visa will be harder to get than a visa from other English-language study destinations like Australia.

An official with one U.S. university said that China’s rapid economic growth has led to the creation of a middle class of 300 million people—many of them consisting of families with a single child (because of China’s “one-child-per-family” policy). These families are increasingly willing to look into sending their children to the U.S.

Overall, the number of international students in the U.S. hit a record 623,805 this year. At 94,563 India still remains the number-one provider of foreign students to the U.S. Besides China, growth was very strong in countries including Saudi Arabia (25%) and Vietnam (45%).

Source: “Their Economy Booming, Chinese Students Head to the U.S.,” International Herald Tribune, Nov. 17

2) ABROAD PERSPECTIVE - Canada to Fast-Track Immigration for Students

Canada’s federal government last week announced plans to dramatically speed up immigration processing time for certain in-demand occupations, and for international students, in 2009. Permanent residency applicants in “highly skilled” areas such as health, finance and the oil industry could see their applications processed in six to 12 months rather than the five or six years that is now common, Canada’s Immigration minister said.

All together, Canada plans to admit up to 265,000 new permanent residents next year—at a time, the minister said, when other important immigrant-admitting countries such as Australia, Germany and England are cutting back.

The announcement is one of a number of signals Canada has been sending lately that it intends to do more to attract and retain talented international students. In a speech this fall announcing its priorities, the newly re-elected Conservative government announced it would “work with the provinces to…attract top international students to Canada.” The lack of a coordinated approach between Canada’s federal and provincial governments has been cited in the past as a reason for Canada’s at times lacklustre performance in attracting foreign students.

Sources: : “Ottawa Unveils Immigration Reforms,” CanWest News Service, Nov. 28, 2008

“Protecting Canada’s Future: Speech from the Throne, 2008,” Nov. 19, 2008 ,” Financial Express, Nov. 22, 2008

3) OVER THE COUNTER - New Zealand Bounces Back

New Zealand has dramatically reversed a recent decline in the number of foreign students it hosts.

From 2004 to 2006, the number of tertiary-level international students in New Zealand sank from 50,442 to 42,652. More recently, however, enrolment of foreign students has risen, Education New Zealand said last month. The increased numbers are not only from historically strong source countries such as China and South Korea, but even more dramatically, from countries that haven’t so far been important markets for New Zealand, such as India, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam.

Some industry-watchers are crediting the development to the marketing of the country as more than just a place to learn English. For example, some schools have attracted students by offering more varied courses, and even through non-academic activities such as golf and horseback riding.

Source: “Golf, Horse-Riding Lure Foreign Students Back,” New Zealand Herald, Nov. 26, 2008

4) GLOBE TIPPING – Safety From Terrorist Attacks

Despite the impression that might be created by high-profile headline-grabbing incidents, your chances of falling victim to a terrorist attack at any hotel are tiny. If you are concerned, however, you may want to avoid staying at hotels and other hangouts that tend to attract foreigners. A reputable hotel in a safe part of town, away from tourist attractions and embassies, is likely to be safer. You can find this and other hotel safety tips at:

www.safetraveler.com/Hotel_Safety.aspx