Around the world: Trends, opportunities, and challenges    Part 2

In my last blog I wrote about changes taking place in countries around the world and the impact some of these changes will have on your current and future international student recruitment plans. This blog post continues to list additional trends.

China

If you want to know where Chinese student mobility patternsare heading it is necessary to underst and the political and economic climate in the country today. There is a reason why10 percent of the population is moving their money and their families out of China. There is a reason why Chinese parents are increasingly sending their children abroad for study at the middle school and high school level. There is a reason why Chinese families are purchasing homes and properties all over the world. Understanding the China of today will help you prepare for future Chinese recruitment strategies and plans. It should come as no surprise that there have been steep declines in the number of Saudi students studying abroad, especially in English language programs. Many colleges and universities in the United States are reporting up to 60 and 70 percent declines in the number of Saudi enrollments. A change in leadership and the sharp price in oil declines are the chief reasons for the Saudi government decreasing the number of Saudi students selected for scholarships to study abroad. The bigger story is the need for international student recruitment outreach to have diversification baked into all strategic plans.

The suspension of Brazil’s Science Without Borders Program is a reminder that international strategic plans should monitor the geopolitical and economic reality of countries. While most students and academics inside and outside of Britain believe that the Brexit vote will prove to be bad for higher education enrollment and research collaboration, there is one country that was happy with the vote. Can you guess which country that was? (Answer is at the end of this blog)

If you want to know what Asian country, excluding China and India, is emerging as another Asian tiger, take a look at what is happening in Vietnam. There are many reasons for this and the August 6 th issue of “The Economist” outlines many of the factors shaping Vietnam’s economy which, in turn, will impact Vietnamese students studying abroad. I began recruiting in Vietnam almost 15 years ago and more than doubled the enrollment of students from Vietnam shortly after my first recruitment trip. Take a close look at Vietnam for recruiting if your school is not already outreaching to

Vietnamese students.

These are just some of the changes I think are important. In the weeks to come I will continue to monitor trends, opportunities and challenges from around the world that should be of interest to your college or university’s strategic international planning.

Answer to question of which European country was pleased with the Brexit vote: Russia.