International Students in the United States - Research Paper Example

International in the United s Introduction International in the United s are officially considered as temporary immigrants. However, most of them normally apply for permanent residency. The research interviewed two university vice chancellors to determine the reason why international students pay more than homegrown students. The recruitment of international students for higher education has become critical for the financial health of several universities. Attracting international students is also important because it attracts new talent and expanding campus diversity. Universities need to attract international students because of the changing environment that has become more competitive and due to budgetary cuts. Even, public institutions are experiencing extreme budget cuts forcing them to tap into the revenue from international student recruitment. It is vital to note that some institutions do not have the reputation to attract international students and therefore need to dedicate more time to make their institutions relevant. They need to introduce effective international recruitment practices that rely on the profound comprehension of student mobility patterns, and student decision-making procedures that are a complicated interplay of numerous variables. A good example of these variables is immigration policy alterations in different countries normally influence student mobility patterns to the United States. These policies are beyond the control of universities and there is nothing much these institutions’ can do about it. This research was carried out to better comprehend the trends and issues related to international student recruitment and to assist the university leaders and administration make better decisions and effectively set goals. Two different university heads were interviewed one from the University of California (Berkley Campus) and Chapman University. The University of California has a great reputation throughout the world, but Chapman University is not well known. This research shall help institutions examine the decision making strategies of potential students, test different recruitment modules, and adopt strategic plans to increase the return on investment in international student recruitment (Thomas 53). In carrying out the research, we shall focus on the overview of international student mobility in the University of California and Chapman University based on major policy reforms, as well as a thorough analysis of international student enrollment trends in these universities with the main focus on emerging recruitment practices and what factors support these trends. The main reason why universities are focusing their attention on international students is because they do not pay the same for college as homegrown students. The recession affected every institution including the education sector. There was a significant deficit in colleges triggering a major increase in the cost of tuition fees for both resident and international students. International students then became the main way for administrators to find additional funds. The University of California admitted roughly 22,800 international students in 2013. This is approximately 27.4% of the total number of students admitted in that year.50 percent of the students in the University of California are international students. Over the previous three years, the number of international students enrolled in the University of California has doubled. It is vital to note that international students pay a tuition fee of $36,000 every year, while students who reside in California pay $13,000 annually (Thomas 10). Some of the reasons why international students pay more tuition fee is because they usually possess a F-1 Visa that indicates that they have a nonimmigrant status and need to go back home when they finish their course. Most of these students come from wealthy families and can easily afford the tuition fee and that is the reason why most universities have doubled the cost of education for international students. These students are bound to get lucrative job opportunities in their native countries, especially with a Western University degree. This means that they can successfully repay their student loans with their new job and hence do not experience extreme financial constraints after graduation. Another reason why international students are welcomed to these universities is that they bring diversity to university. A small university such as Chapman University benefits greatly from international students who come with their culture and language to the university. The local students learn their way of life and give them a better chance to succeed in the job market. This is because they shall be well-versed on how to behave and relate with people from various backgrounds and cultures. International students therefore need to pay more because they are gaining valuable experience in these universities. The reason why these universities charge local students less is because the university administrations have policies that ensure youth residing within the state gain the opportunity to attend college at an affordable price. The United States of America has several gifted students who do not come from privileged families like those of international students. This means that the government had to come with ways of ensuring that local high school students gain higher education for local growth. It would be extremely unfair for universities to charge local students the same as international students (Thomas 81). Statistics from UNESCO shows that the United States of America is the leading destination for international students and enrolls approximately 20 percent of all mobile students in the world every year. The total number of international students every year is roughly 3.4 million. The enrollment of international students increases every year, but it is important to note that due to increased competition and the opening of new markets this percentage is steadily reducing. The United States is losing its appeal because of a number of reasons including cost, distance, competition from other common destinations and visa complexity. The reason for this decline is because universities such as Chapman University have not been proactive in international student enrollment and are only seeing the great opportunities it possesses due to the financial challenges they are currently facing. Due to massive size of the United States higher education system, they have the ability to absorb a wide range of international students at a faster rate as compared to other countries like Canada and the United Kingdom. This is because only 3 percent of students pursuing higher education in the United States are international students. On the other hand, Universities in the United Kingdom such as Cranfield University have enrolled more than 50 percent of international students. This is because these universities have aggressive recruitment practices where they even utilize agents and the country has liberal immigration policies. In order to better comprehend the international enrollment trends in the United States of America, we need to focus on three agendas: source countries, enrolment by academic practices and recruitment practices. The two countries from which most international students originate from is either India or China. In the United States alone, these two countries account for 84 percent of all increases in international student recruitment every year. The main reason as to why there has been an increase in student mobility from China is because of increases high school graduates who can afford education in the United States and the unmet demand of higher education in China. Universities are, however, focusing on other source countries such as Saudi Arabia that provide full government scholarships (Thomas 2). It is also vital to note that there has been an increase in the enrollment of international students at the bachelor’s level. The main reason universities such as the University of California have focused on recruiting students at the bachelor’s level is because they are normally self-funded and provide revenue to the university for longer than master’s programs. There is rapid economic growth occurring in several Asian countries and this shall provide a wide range of families that can afford higher education in the United States of America. For example, the University of California received more than 13,00 freshman applications from international students for 2012-2013 academic year and this was a significant increase from the previous year. Universities are also adopting new recruitment practices to attract more international students to the United States. These recruitment techniques need to be efficient and meet the recruitment goals set by the institution. One practice is the utilization of recruitment service providers. Universities such as Chapman University are facing fiscal pressure and time constraints to enroll international students and therefore partner with a third party. These service providers, however, do not take into consideration the quality of students they recruit and only care about the number of international students they are able to bring in. To ensure that the integrity of the institution is not undermined, the institution needs to create appropriate risk management practices. Another practice employed to recruit more international students is social media and alumni engagement. The youth of today are literally glued to their laptops and smartphones and would therefore readily access information on university enrollment via social media. Furthermore, social media provide these institutions with cheap and reliable means of connecting with their potential students. International alumni can also be a very good resource for recruiting new students since they will provide the potential students with a comprehensive analysis of their experience abroad. Social media also enables institutions to maintain contact with students who have graduated (Thomas 34). Conclusion International student mobility is expected to increase worldwide in the next year. Students from emerging markets such as Saudi Arabia will play a major role in this increase. These are extremely wealthy countries and that is the reason why tuition fees for international students is so expensive. Work Cited Thomas, Clive S. Research Guide to U.S. and International Interest Groups. Westport (Conn.: Praeger, 2004. Print. Read More