India top of US enrolments

For the first time, Indian students were the largest nationality studying in the USA, increasing their numbers by 22.3 per cent on the previous year and overtaking Chinese students - the previous leader - who increased their numbers by 5.5 per cent.

Rajesh Arya, President of the Council for American Education in India, said that more Indian students could now afford to study overseas. '[It is] very difficult to get admission to good Indian universities,' said Arya. 'Over the past two decades, the number of students have increased tremendously but the number of [places] in Indian universities has not increased.'

The majority of Indian students in the USA were studying at graduate level according to the report, with 74 per cent being graduate students, 21 per cent undergraduate students and four per cent on non-degree programmes.

Ravi Singh, from Global Reach in India, said that the most popular subjects for students were computers and engineering. 'The USA has always been the number-one destination for Indian students,' he said.

The report also showed an encouraging increase in the number of students from a range of different countries. Fears that the events of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent toughening up of visa regulations, would have a negative effect on international enrolments have yet to be fully realised during this academic year. Overall, international student numbers in the USA increased by 6.4 per cent during 2001/2002, with significant individual increases from China, Mexico, Pakistan and Colombia. However, as many of the international students taking up university places in September 2001 would have applied up to one year previously, statistics for 2002/2003 should show the true effects of the terrorist attacks on international applications.

'These numbers are encouraging,' said Patricia Harrison, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. 'International education has become of paramount importance to economic, political and social conditions in both developing and developed countries.'

The number of students from the Middle East studying in the USA increased by 4.6 per cent on the previous academic year. Individual decreases from the United Arab Emirates (-20.2 per cent), Oman (-11.3 per cent) and Iraq (-5.2 per cent) were largely masked by significant increases from Lebanon (21.4 per cent), Iran (20.2 per cent), Jordan (10.5 per cent) and Turkey (10.1 per cent).

A number of Middle Eastern students were arrested at the end of last year for violating visa regulations - in some cases by failing to take as many classes as stipulated in their student visas.

Six Middle Eastern students in Colorado and at least 22 in California were arrested in December last year due to the implementation of the new National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (Nseers). Under the new system, all males over the age of 16 from Iraq, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Eritrea, Lebanon, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Somalia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were required to have their fingerprints and photograph taken at local Department of Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS) offices by various deadlines spanning December to February.

New entrants to the USA from these countries will have to do this at their point of entry and have their details checked against a criminal and terrorist database. They must also register with the INS once a year during their stay in the USA. Minor violations of visa regulations, including taking fewer than the 12 credit hours required under the student visa regulations prescribed by the INS, have already resulted in students being detained.

Attorney General Ashcroft, from the US Department of Justice, said when the system was first introduced, 'The vulnerabilities of our immigration system became starkly clear on September 11. This system will expand substantially America's scrutiny of those foreign visitors who may present an elevated national security risk.'

However, many educational institutions and associations in the USA have been vocal in their criticism. Mark Hallett, Director of International Student Services at Colorado State University, said, 'I don't believe this is helping us with the war on terrorism. We're alienating people who could be our best friends and ambassadors.'

Chinese Malaysians wanting to study in their own country will find it easier from this year, as places on all courses at the country's 17 public universities will be granted using criteria based on academic merit instead of ethnic origins.

The Malaysian government announced in January that its use of a 31-year-old quota system, established in order to help the ethnic Malay population, was to end. Admissions to courses in some faculty areas has been judged solely on merit since last year.

The quota system has courted controversy for some time as many academically able Chinese Malay students have found themselves unable to gain a place at any public university, while other Malay students have gained places without having the minimum academic standards for university admission. Many Chinese Malay students go overseas to countries such as Australia, the USA and Canada to study and Malaysian universities hope the change will encourage more to stay and study at home.

'This is good news for Malaysia,' said Anuar Zaini, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Malaysia.

A new guardianship visa for parents of international students up to the age of 19 could be available in New Zealand this year, according to Lianne Dalziel from the New Zealand Ministry of Immigration.

At present, parents accompanying their children on study courses to New Zealand have to apply for a visitor visa that is only valid for nine months. The new guardianship visa would last as long as their child's study visa and is hoped to stop the practice of parents applying for student visas themselves or getting residence as business immigrants.

'A policy change in this area might reflect positively in other areas where we are exposed to some risk,' said Dalziel.

The Ministry of Education is currently planning changes to the code of practice on the care of foreign pupils, which would require children enrolled in primary schools to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. According to Ministry figures, there are currently 3,396 foreign pupils enrolled in primary schools in New Zealand.

Universities in the UK will be able to charge local and European Union (EU) students up to UK£3,000 (US$4,860) per year from 2006, under new higher education finance reforms published this year.

While international students from outside the EU can pay up to UK£15,000 (US$24,285) per year for some academic courses at UK universities, local students and those from within the EU have previously paid up-front fees of just UK£1,100 (US$1,781) per year. In the future, universities may be able to charge students much more than the current UK£3,000 (US$4,857) limit which has so far been fixed until 2011. Graduates will have to pay back the fees after completing their course on all income over UK£15,000 (US$24,285) a year.

While many universities and education associations have expressed concern that the fees will put off students from studying in UK universities, there are also fears that the UK government will be unable to enforce repayment of the fees by EU students due to difficulties in tracing them.

Centralised applications
International students wanting to study in Germany will be able to apply to universities through a central application system if a plan forwarded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) comes to fruition.
The system will cut down on the large amount of paperwork currently undertaken by individual DAAD offices in each university by checking a student's eligibility centrally and then forwarding the application on to universities.
A model system is due to be in place for 17 different Institutes for Higher Education in Berlin and Brandenburg by 2004.

Study in Sweden website
A new website to encourage more international students to study in Sweden has been launched by the Swedish Institute, a public institution that promotes Sweden's profile overseas.
The website provides information on the education opportunities available for international students, as well as admissions procedures and other practical information on living in Sweden. While higher education in Sweden is free for both foreigners and locals, universities are keen to receive more international students, especially in less popular fields such as engineering.
Niklas Tranaeus, from the Swedish Institute, said, 'In Sweden, there is a perception that more foreign students benefit Swedish universities in many ways.'

China attracts more international students
The Ministry of Education in China is considering increasing the amount of money available for scholarships granted to incoming international students, according to the Chinese newspaper The People's Daily.
As the number of Chinese students travelling overseas to study in all destinations has increased in recent years, the Chinese government is anxious to build on the 62,000 foreign students who studied at China's colleges and universities last year. The largest student markets for China are currently Korea, Japan and the USA.

English language business school for Germany
A new business school, backed by businesses such as DaimlerChrysler, is to open in Germany and offer courses specialising in principles of technology and management - taught entirely in English.
The European School of Management and Technology will open its doors for executive education classes in 2003 and will offer its first MBA course in 2004.
'We shall be European in emphasis, but with the ambition to think and act globally,' said Derek Abell, the school's new president.

Irish - Australian university agreement
An agreement aiming to promote educational cooperation between Australia and Ireland was signed at the end of last year by the Presidents of the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (AVCC) and the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities (CHIU).
Terms of the agreement focus on information sharing, staff and student exchanges, mutual recognition of qualifications, staff development and university management between the two countries.
'The effective internationalisation of Australia's universities is vital to the future well-being of the Australian community,' said Deryck Schrueder, President of the AVCC.

Q. How popular are non-traditional study destinations with clients seeking mainstream education courses and how do you see this sector developing?

'Non-English speaking countries like France, Germany, Spain and Italy are very popular, however, information from these countries is rarely sent to agents. Universities seem not to be interested in promoting their programmes and getting more international students. I have been receiving enquiries on how to enter mainstream education in South Africa but information is difficult to get. These countries should open their school doors to agents like us, training us on how to recruit students for them and making us well acquainted with their school system.'
Valquiria Mac-Dowell, Improvement, Brazil

'Study destinations such as Japan, Malaysia and Singapore are becoming popular in Myanmar. Some non-governmental organisations are starting to promote higher education in Japan via language courses in foreign countries. All Singapore schools use English [as the language of instruction], which is a common second language in [our] region. The Singapore government has been granting 80 per cent of tuition fees to students in polytechnic colleges since 1997. Also, students admitted to government schools are permitted a part-time job.'
Peter Shan, PMC Company, Myanmar

Full name: Canadian Education Centre (CEC) Network
Year established: 1995
Organisation's main role: to promote and market Canada as a study destination for international students.
Contact: Head Office Vancouver, 578-999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC, V6C 3E1, Canada
Tel: +[1] 604 4080588
Fax: +[1] 604 6411238
Email: anne.stockdale@cec.apfnet.org
Website: www.cecnetwork.ca

What has been your most important achievement over the past year?
We expanded our on-the-ground presence overseas by opening a sub-office in Surabaya, Indonesia; a second office in Beijing and our third Canadian Cultural and Language Institute in Bogotá, Colombia. We launched a dynamic new international student website www.studycanada.ca, which tailors information to students in 17 countries and in a dozen languages. We placed 45 Candian teachers in the United Arab Emirates to raise awareness of Canadian education and brought Canadian schools in direct contact with international students in 36 cities and 18 countries through our education fairs.

How are your clients faring internationally?
Canada is enjoying a strong and steady growth in terms of international student flow. More than 133,000 study permits were issued in 2001, an increase of 23 per cent from 107,960 in 2000 and a 71 per cent growth over three years. These figures do not include additional students who come to Canada on short-term programmes not requiring a study permit - estimated at about 75,000 students per year.

What has affected overseas student numbers in 2002?
There were some changes to Canadian immigration policy in June 2002. There is more flexibility for students wishing to study on programmes of less than six months. We are confident that student flow will continue to increase in 2003 as the Canadian government expressed interest last year in attracting larger numbers of talented foreign students and skilled workers.

What will be the main challenge in the future?
Ensuring that Canada has an ongoing presence in established and new markets and that Canada stands out in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

John Sargent, Programmes Manager of the Education New Zealand Trust (EdNZ), is retiring after 12 years of service. His replacement is Stuart Boag (right), who has a background that incorporates everything from marketing to farming. 'John and his team have done a fantastic job,' said Mr Boag. 'I am looking forward to building on what has been done, and in helping EdNZ meet the challenges ahead.'

John Lin became the new President of the Taiwan Overseas Study Association (Tosa) and the International Education Consultants Association (Ieca) at the beginning of this year. He succeeds Albert Lee (right) who was elected to be an executive board member and also appointed International Relations Officer for both associations.

Jason Xydis joined the Hothouse Media sales team in January this year. Mr Xydis, who grew up in both Greece and Australia, will be focussing on increasing the sales contacts for both Education Travel Magazine and Language Travel Magazine. 'I am looking forward to this new challenge,' said Mr Xydis.