US Faces Competition for Recruitment of International Students

Madison, Wis.—January 31, 2008— Although visas to study in the United States have become easier for international students to obtain in the past few years, there’s still a perception that the process remains very difficult, said Marguerite Dennis, vice president of enrollment and international programs at Suffolk University in Boston, during a recent online seminar.

According to U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, the number of visas issued to foreign students and scholars reached an all-time high last year, Dennis said. In addition, two bills in Congress would create a new student visa, the F4, which would not require applicants to demonstrate that they intend to return home after graduation. International students studying science, computer science or engineering would likely be most affected by this bill.

But perceptions often lag behind reality, Dennis said. “The perception that it’s difficult [to get a visa to study in the U.S.] is still very real … and people talk.”

During her 60-minute seminar, Dennis also addressed a misperception persisting within the United States: that student visa changes following 9/11 are responsible for the United States no longer being the world’s most popular international educator. The decline in the United States’ share of the international higher education market began before 2001 because more and more countries have been looking to enroll international students, simply creating more options.

The seminar also examined:
• the strengths and weaknesses of other nations’ international education efforts
• changes in American students’ study abroad preferences
• the impact online education will have on the market

If you missed the live event, you can order the program in CD or transcript format, both of which include the presenters' handouts.

This seminar is the second in a three-part series on trends in higher education. During these seminars, Ms. Dennis addresses the current and upcoming developments in the United States, internationally and in community colleges.

Magna Publications is a leading publisher of newsletters and other information products in the higher education segment. Magna also manages onsite and online conferences on topics of interest to higher education.

For more information please contact David Burns, Publisher, Magna Publications, Inc., at 608-227-8109, or dburns@magnapubs.com.