The US remains the top study abroad destination among international students without a proper national strategy for the same. However, with time, the need for a strategy for international education will become more prominent. Considering this, the peak bodies and group of stakeholders in the US, including NAFSA, AIRC, and IIE, aim to boost the competitiveness of the US in the global education sector.
A survey was administered to explore the priorities and issues involved in the development of national strategy in the US. The survey gathered over 400 responses from international education professionals in the US. The respondents mentioned some points clearly, including:
- Modernization of work pathways, opportunities for residency post-graduation, and visa policies should be the priority for national strategy.
- Further diversity is also an emerging key theme, with strategies focusing on providing scholarships for underrepresented groups and promoting study abroad opportunities for a wide range of students.
- Respondents are in favour of a central coordinating mechanism for strategy. They feel either the strategy should be in the White House itself or via an independent cross-sectoral body.
Most of the respondents hold the view that national strategy will turn out to be a key to enhancing its position in the global market. Nearly four in ten respondents said that a key goal for national strategy should be to significantly increase the share of international student markets over the next ten years.
The majority of respondents indicated that increasing outreach and recruitment efforts, providing more funds for scholarships, and addressing the issue of visa refusal rates were necessary practical tactics for growing market share and attaining a more diversified international enrolment.
Finally, respondents have also made it clear that the US government plays an important role in the development and implementation of such a national strategy.
