Interesting data on international students in the USA (and at the University of Nottingham)
The Institute of International Education has just released its ‘Open Doors’ report on international education in the USA. The press release give the headlines:
The 2012 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, released today, finds that the number of international students at colleges and universities in the United States increased by six percent to a record high of 764,495 in the 2011/12 academic year, while U.S. students studying abroad increased by one percent. This year, international exchanges in all 50 states contributed $22.7 billion to the U.S. economy. International education creates a positive economic and social impact for communities in the United States and around the world.
Open Doors is intended to provide helpful information on international education in the US:
Open Doors, supported by a grant from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, is a comprehensive information resource on international students and scholars studying or teaching at higher education institutions in the United States, and U.S. students studying abroad for academic credit at their home colleges or universities.
The report lists the leading institutions in the USA in terms of international student numbers:
| TOP INSTITUTIONS HOSTING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, 2011/12 | ||||
| Rank | Institution | City | State | Int’l Total |
| 1 | University of Southern California | Los Angeles | CA | 9,269 |
| 2 | University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign | Champaign | IL | 8,997 |
| 3 | New York University | New York | NY | 8,660 |
| 4 | Purdue University – Main Campus | West Lafayette | IN | 8,563 |
| 5 | Columbia University | New York | NY | 8,024 |
| 6 | University of California – Los Angeles | Los Angeles | CA | 6,703 |
| 7 | Northeastern University | Boston | MA | 6,486 |
| 8 | University of Michigan – Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | MI | 6,382 |
| 9 | Michigan State University | East Lansing | MI | 6,209 |
| 10 | Ohio State University – Main Campus | Columbus | OH | 6,142 |
What is most interesting about this data for me is that if the University of Nottingham UK (ie not including our campuses in Malaysia and China) were to be included in this table it would be at the top with, by our reckoning, 9,662 non-UK students enrolled in 2011/12. My guess is that Manchester and UCL would have even more than this.
Similar data for the UK can be found on the UKCISA website (which reports official HESA data) but note that the latest figures are for 2010/11. The US seems to be able to publish a little faster than we can. And of course we may find the numbers of international students in the UK declining in future as the full consequences of the Government’s immigration policies come into play.
Estimates of changes in international student numbers vary considerably, but a range of 0 a 40% reduction has been spoken of informally. Given that the vast majoirty of UK intenrational students return to their home countries and always have done, the current immigratin policies re students will not be successful in the medium or long term. Meantime, Univs will have to consider budget reductions, turning the efficiency screw still further and ultimately risk damaging our reputation for a high quality student learning experience. Perhaps this is not the best example of joined up Gov’t thinking ever.