Colleges see fewer foreign students

Experts blame visa hassles, competition; some fear effects on science, engineering
By Matt Krupnick
January 29, 2006
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- It used to be that the choice between a U.S. or foreign university was a no-brainer for top international students. If they gained admission to Harvard or Berkeley, their choice was made.
But the combined effects of the 9/11 attacks and other countries' higher-education improvements have concerned U.S. educators, who fear a drop in foreign student enrollment would threaten college engineering and science departments.
"Universities could not, in some cases, conduct research or teach classes without their very talented foreign students," said Peggy Blumenthal, executive vice president of the Institute of International Education, which tracks statistics on international students.
In the mid-1950s, according to the institute, U.S. universities were attracting more than 30,000 international students per year. Last year, more than 500,000 attended U.S. institutions, generating about $13 billion in tuition.
But last year, colleges and universities also reported the lowest international undergraduate enrollment since 1999, while graduate enrollment dropped to its lowest level since 2000.
Education experts say increased visa hassles and other U.S. policies have sent the wrong message to the world's students.
"There's just a whole bunch of things that make people say, 'Wait a minute, I don't have to go through any of this to study anywhere else,' " said Victor Johnson, who directs public policy for the Association of International Educators in Washington, D.C.
"It's simply an undeniable fact that the United States isn't a popular place in the world, and that does affect people's propensity to study here."
\nUniversities also are facing another challenge: \ncompetition.\nChina is expected to award more doctorate degrees than the \nUnited States in five or 10 years, and India is also producing more doctorates \nthan ever before. Australia and Europe have also beefed up their \nhigher-education systems.\nBut some say they don\'t see why educators are so concerned. \nIt\'s logical for universities to have to compete for students, they say, and \nU.S. institutions already have an edge over the rest of the world.\nIn India, for example, the top universities simply don\'t \nhave room for all the Indian students, said B.S. Prakash, India\'s consul general \nin San Francisco.\nExporting students to the United States is good for both \ncountries, since many graduates return home to improve India\'s economy, he \nsaid.\n"In the big picture, India believes in globalization," \nPrakash said. "We don\'t look at these things as win-loss."\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\nThank you for contacting Admission Source.If you want to have one on one interaction with Mr. N.B.Singh with his undivided attention and to keep your correspondence confidential than please hire our consultancy services.Details can be mailed to you. \nWE GUARANTEE YOU ADMISSION. VISA HELP WILL BE RENDERED.\nWe have a record of 100% success rate in the past.\nContact admit2003 at rediffmail.com\nGood Luck\nAdmission Source Group,Suite 112,SCO 139-141,Sector 17C,Chandigarh. India. \nTel. 172-2711821,2702640\n\nThe use of this group is subject to the terms mentioned in the groups disclaimer sent to you on joining.It can also be read in the files section.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n ",1]
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Universities also are facing another challenge: competition.
China is expected to award more doctorate degrees than the United States in five or 10 years, and India is also producing more doctorates than ever before. Australia and Europe have also beefed up their higher-education systems.
But some say they don't see why educators are so concerned. It's logical for universities to have to compete for students, they say, and U.S. institutions already have an edge over the rest of the world.
In India, for example, the top universities simply don't have room for all the Indian students, said B.S. Prakash, India's consul general in San Francisco.
Exporting students to the United States is good for both countries, since many graduates return home to improve India's economy, he said.
"In the big picture, India believes in globalization," Prakash said. "We don't look at these things as win-loss."