Foreign students face higher costs to attend American universities

The rate of foreign applications to American universities has increased over the last decade, but this may slow as the U.S Department of Homeland Security plans to double the fees that international students must pay in order to study here.The fees help offset the costs of federal surveillance that monitors student activities.This could have a negative effect not only on major colleges and universities with a large contingent of foreign students, but also on smaller institutions that rely on full tuition-paying students from abroad to help offset costs and subsidize scholarships for American students. The increase in fees to as much as $200 is scheduled to take effect Oct. 1. Nationally, after seeing a 12 percent growth in 2006, the number of applications from abroad dropped to just 3 percent this year. Admissions officials were startled to see no growth in the number of applications from India in 2007, the country that has traditionally sent the largest number of students. China follows India in sending the most students to the U.S. each year. …………..An increase in fees could have a negative impact on enrollment at such small universities, many of them having spent years establishing close ties to China and other foreign countries. The contributions these universities make to American culture and education often go unnoticed. [View Full Article]

Growth in Foreign Student Applications to U.S. Graduate Schools Slowing

……The growth rate of foreign applications to American graduate schools has slowed substantially amid increased international competition to attract students seeking advanced degrees, according to a recent survey by the Council of Graduate Schools. The council, composed of 500 member institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada, found that the number of applications for admission to CGS-member graduate schools increased by just 3 percent this year, compared to a 9-percent increase in 2007and a 12-percent increase in 2006. As universities in Australia, Britain, France, and Germany have bolstered their marketing and financial aid programs, the ability of American graduate schools to better attract international students is faltering, researchers found. ………..With students from China, India, and Korea accounting for about half of all non-U.S. citizens attending American graduate schools, the slowing influx from these countries in particular could create a significant void at American institutions. As all three Asian countries continue to expand their own postsecondary and postgraduate educational opportunities, their students may find even less need to come to the United States for their graduate studies: [View Full Article]

New Visa Fees Would Send the Wrong Signal

Almost all of us can remember America’s reaction to 9/11. In the days following the horrendous event many defensive initiatives were taken and, since two of the perpetrators were foreign students, one reaction was to restrict access to America’s colleges and universities. Barriers were imposed overseas, visas became difficult if not impossible to get. Personnel in American embassies were frosty, if not outright rude, to inquiries from those interested in enrolling as undergraduate or graduate students. …………. our ambassador he acknowledged the unusual circumstances and the problems they were causing both for his staff and Chinese nationals. …………. The U.S. authorities stood firm. Students who had contemplated studying in the U.S. redirected themselves to schools in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom and other more welcoming English speaking countries. …………… It was important that persons from other countries studying in the U.S. come to know our values and return home able to make the case for America; …………………..China and India have been sending students to our shores with renewed vigor. Conservative U.S. visa practices seem to have become more flexible. ……………..the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is considering doubling the fee that international students were going to be required to pay when they applied for visas. The numbers aren’t consequential in the larger scheme of things, going from $100 to $200. [View Full Article]

Growth in Foreign Student Applications to U.S. Graduate Schools Slowing

……. The growth rate of foreign applications to American graduate schools has slowed substantially amid increased international competition to attract students seeking advanced degrees, according to a recent survey by the Council of Graduate Schools. The council, composed of 500 member institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada, found that the number of applications for admission to CGS-member graduate schools increased by just 3 percent this year, compared to a 9-percent increase in 2007and a 12-percent increase in 2006. As universities in Australia, Britain, France, and Germany have bolstered their marketing and financial aid programs, the ability of American graduate schools to better attract international students is faltering, researchers found. ……..Applications to U.S. graduate schools from students in India, which had increased by 12 percent in 2007 and by 26 percent in 2006, were flat in 2008, as were applications from students in Korea. Applications from students in China increased 12 percent in 2008, down from an increase of 19 percent in 2007. [View Full Article]

Indian students to get right to work in Australia

There is good news for thousands of Indians studying in Australia as changes to the visa system, coming into effect on Saturday, will give them automatic right to work in the country. The Australian government has made changes to its visa system so that Indian citizens studying in Australia will automatically become eligible to work part time during their courses.……. all student visas will be granted with work rights attached, removing the need for people to make a separate application."………….A total of 34,146 student visas were granted to Indian citizens in the year ending June 2007. Overall 228,592 students from 191 countries got visas during the same period. Today, India is the second largest source of overseas students and a significant contributor to Australia's international education market……… [View Full Article]

Bid to attract foreign students gears up

The country is pushing ahead in its efforts to become a leading destination for international students, riding on the wave of a growing number of foreigners coming to study in recent years.
This year alone, the authorities will increase the amount of scholarships for foreign students - a group that grows by 3,000 people every year - to attract more of those coming for advanced degrees and study, ……….The government has earmarked 500 million yuan ($71 million) for the scholarships this year, up 40 percent from that of last year. The grants will provide each student free education and accommodation, plus a monthly bonus of 800 to 1,400 yuan, the ministry said.The move comes on the back of a rising number of foreigners educated in the country.…………….The number of foreign students studying in China reached a record of more than 195,000 last year, up 20 percent year on year,…….."With a good social environment, fast economic development and rising international stature, China has become more and more attractive to foreign students in recent years,…………China has also signed mutual diploma recognition contracts with 32 countries including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, New Zealand, Austria and Russia. Students came to China attracted by its unique culture and low cost of living and tuition....... [View Full Article]

Virtual classrooms making India a knowledge economy

Though Indian education system drastically lags behind the developed countries, but it is taking on a whole new dimension. Virtual classrooms, introduced in India, though are not popular, but in the recent years will surely gain popularity.

PRESENT EDUCATION system in India is quite perturbing. As compared to 1.8 million schools in China, India has only 1.2 million and against 900 universities in China and 3600 in USA, India has only 362 universities. Further about 26 million people are added every year to the existing education system, making it a cumbersome task to provide quality education. Globalisation is demanding more knowledge outsourcing from India, but the already existing rift between supply and demand of quality educators is also widening. Then rises the concerning question of bringing equilibrium. …………. “Virtual classroom is the answer to the shortage of quality education providers, not just within India but also abroad. There is a huge demand of Indian teachers worldwide. Indian students travel miles, to developed nations, to their pursue higher education, but with new age technology and knowledge sharing platforms India is observing a reverse trend. [View Full Article]

Locals not taking up Indian study offers

MALAYSIANS are not taking up the Indian Government and universities' offer of scholarships and other educational exchange opportunities to study in India.
“Existing educational opportunities, through scholarships, are not being optimally utilised by Malaysian students,” said Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha.………….Those nominated under the program are provided with return airfare, accommodation, full board, training fees and monthly allowance in India.[View Full Article]

US Visa rules altered; Techies can stay longer

New Delhi: Just a few weeks after Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates’ testimony to the House of Representatives, the US government has extended the time foreign graduates can stay and work after graduation from 12 to 29 months. This means that a graduating student now gets a longer stay in the US without a worker visa, typically an H1-B. The decision also extends the period of stay and work authorization for all F-1 students with pending H-1B petitions, and allows students to apply for OPT within 60 days of graduation.……………In a press release, The US Department of Homeland Security said it had issued an interim final rule extending the period of Optional Practical Training (OPT) from 12 to 29 months for qualified F-1 non-immigrant students. The extension will be available to students with degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics employed by businesses enrolled in the E-Verify program.……………The decision also extends the period of stay and work authorization for all F-1 students with pending H-1B petitions, and allows students to apply for OPT within 60 days of graduation.The yearly cap on H-1B visas is 65,000. [View Full Article]

Young Indians turning to France

There seems to be a change in the mindset of young Indians about Europe. More and more students and highly skilled immigrants are looking at non-English speaking countries such as France as a destination for higher study and work. Of course, in terms of sheer numbers America, Australia, UK and Canada still attract the largest number of Indians, however, France is working hard at increasing the number of Indian students studying there. Besides, certain reforms such as making work permits easier for Indian students who finish courses in France are also being introduced. ……….. With India playing an important role amidst growing globalization, we are very keen on many more young people from here going to France to study and being exposed to the French culture and way of life. Besides, French multinational companies are also keen on hiring larger numbers of highly skilled Indian workers for their global operations. ……….He adds that the French government is making some immigration policy reforms that will allow foreign students to remain in France for some months after they finish their studies to look for jobs. [View Full Article]