Overseas, Overwhelmed^©
A Bulletin for International Education Professionals
Volume 8, Issue 35; October 21, 2009

1)  LET’S GO CANADA – Sweden fears drop in international student numbers
2)  ABROAD PERSPECTIVE - Africa: Striking university staff and students signal more delays
3)  OVER THE COUNTER - Fall in international aid marks decline in student applicants from India to the US
4)  GLOBE TIPPING – What’s the beef: Eating tips for the vegetarian traveler   

1) LET'S GO CANADA –Sweden fears drop in international student numbers

Sweden’s decision to introduce university fees for international students from 2011 has led to fears from higher learning institutions that they will see a drop in the number of foreign applicants.

Currently, the number of international students in higher learning institutions lies at 30,000, 8% of the total student body in Sweden, up from 3.1% in 1998.  The number of Swedish students applying to universities has declined in recent years but has been offset by recruiting foreign students.  The universities now fear that as a result of the new policy there will be a significant decline in the total number of applicants. 

Currently the two nations sending the most students to Sweden are Pakistan with 40,000 students applying for a place in 2009 and Nigeria with 20,000 applicants.  Institutions believe that potential foreign students will apply next year in even greater numbers than before so as to start their studies before fees are introduced. 

2) ABROAD PERSPECTIVE - Africa: Striking university staff and students signal more delays

Three months into the industrial strike action by university union staff in Nigeria and the universities are no closer to re-opening their doors. A brief reprieve has been given to the government with suspension of strike action ten days ago by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in order to give the government time to sign the agreements they made.  The remaining two unions also striking, namely the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), followed suit on the 16th October 2009.  However, it remains debatable when universities will be able to resume regular teaching. 

Strike action in Kenya by the students at the Moi University’s main campus in Eldoret turned tragic with the death of one student and has seen the suspension of classes until further notice.

Concerned students in both countries wishing not to delay their studies further may be forced to consider studying elsewhere, both locally as well as internationally.  They may, however, face an uphill task obtaining course transcripts with administrative functions at the universities also paralysed.  Students from the institution have already began approaching Higher-Edge’s Nairobi office to discuss the availability of placements at Canadian Universities.

Source “Student dies after varsity protest” Daily Nation, September 22, 2009

3) OVER THE COUNTER –Fall in international aid marks decline in student applicants from India to the US

The 2009 financial year has seen a 25% decline in the number of students from India applying to study in the US.

Most experts and consultants feel this is the result of the reduction in financial aid available offered by institutions.  Until 2007-2008, India remained the leading country of origin for international students in the US, says Ajit Motwani, India director of the Institute of International Education (IIE). 

"Going to the US for higher education is an investment decision and in India we’re now seeing all the markets reviving and investors coming back. I think that next year, the number of students going to the US will again increase as many are now making decisions to go and doing the required paperwork," says Mumbai-based education consultant Karan Gupta.

4) GLOBE TIPPING - What’s the beef: Eating tips for the vegetarian traveler   

Being a vegetarian in North America or Europe is not a big deal but when travelling abroad, requests for vegetarian meals may be met with confusion and it is common to find vegetarian dishes prepared with lard (pig-fat) or actually contain meat.

Prepare yourself by carrying with you granola bars or crackers to tide you over until you can find a suitable meal.  Learn how to say ‘I do not eat meat’ in the local language and don’t be embarrassed to indulge in a western style restaurant which may have a wider variety of vegetarian dishes than the local ones.

Find more meat-free tips on, click here.

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