Preparing for the Future: The Path Forward for International Educational Exchange
Survey
Jun. 2021
Sample Size:
414
Demographics:
administrators
Topics:
Covid-19
Learning
Admissions And Enrollment
Educational Pathways
Top Findings:
- Spring 2021: Over half of institutions (52 percent) noted that most of their international students attended classes in person at some point during the semester in spring 2021.
- Fall 2021: For all students on campus, the vast majority of institutions (86 percent) are planning some type of in-person study in fall 2021, and none of the reporting institutions intend to offer virtual instruction only. Mirroring this finding, 90 percent of institutions plan to offer in-person study to international students.
- Forty-three percent of institutions report an increase in their international student applications for the 2021/22 academic year, almost double the increase reported by institutions a year ago.
- International student applications vary by institutional type. Many doctoral universities noted application increases (59 percent), while a majority of community colleges reported declines (58 percent).
- Most U.S. higher education institutions (77 percent) reported funding outreach and recruitment of international students at the same levels or higher than previously.
- Priorities for outreach to international students continue, with institutions focusing on online recruitment events (73 percent), working with current international students (68 percent), and social media (65 percent).
- More than half of institutions (64 percent) plan to provide COVID-19 vaccines to students, faculty, and staff on campus, including international students.
- Approximately 45 percent do not plan to require a vaccine before students arrive on campus. Only 14 percent of institutions have a requirement in place.
- Most colleges and universities (55 percent) are still deliberating whether to require COVID-19 vaccinations for students pursuing in-person study abroad.
- Approximately 50 percent of institutions anticipate an increase or stabilization in study abroad numbers in the 2021/22 academic year. This is a significant improvement over last year when 97 percent of colleges and universities expected declines.
- Many institutions are taking a cautious approach and waiting to decide about future terms for study abroad due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 outbreaks (34 percent in fall 2021 and 43 percent in spring 2022). However, 49 percent of institutions, prioritizing safety, plan for in-person study abroad for fall 2021, which increases to 54 percent by spring 2022.