Foreign Student Population Increases in the U.S.

In a recent report in USA Today, Mary Beth Marklein points out that the U.S. has seen its first increase in foreign students since 9/11. The report also found that the number of U.S. students studying abroad is continuing its upward trend, increasing 8.5% in the 2005-06 academic year to a record 223,534. Nearly 583,000 foreign students studied in the U.S. during 2006-07 academic year.

Allan Goodman, President of The Institute of International Education attributes the turnaround to “vigorous efforts of the national, state and campus level, including a smoother visa application through the US State Department and stronger recruitment and outreach by colleges and universities.”

And Marlene Johnson, executive director of NAFSA Association of International Educators stated, “Attracting international students and scholars to the U.S. is integral to effective public diplomacy, and we need a comprehensive national strategy.” 

But beyond the diplomatic implications, there are major implications in the business world of increasing foreign students at U.S. schools coming into the workplace. For example, I have found working with students from China, they are all business. Studying and passing is important to them. One student told me that it was a disgrace to his family if he failed in school. They take their studies very seriously.

According to the USA Today report:

Business remains the leading field of study for foreign students, followed by engineering; 18% and 15% of foreign students, respectively, study those disciplines. And colleges and universities in California enrolled the largest number of foreign students (77,987 up 3.5%) followed by New York (65,884 up 2.5%) and Texas (49,081. up 5%).

U.S. colleges and universities are starting schools in other countries. I don’t think this will decrease students coming to the U.S., but will make education available to students that do not have the funds to come to the U.S.

I am not one to watch TV, however when I went in to breakfast, my husband had on FOX News. A Boulder, Colo. school is doing away with the concept of a valedictorian. The school claims it is too much competition, claiming it is an unfair practice. But competition is a part of life, especially business life. We must learn to deal with it, not do away with it.

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