by Elizabeth Drake and Robert A. Scott
Fida Olga/Shutterstock
An exemplary undergraduate education is built on courses and experiences that nurture inquisitiveness or curiosity, foster interdisciplinarity (studying across program boundaries), encourage immersion (through fieldwork and study abroad), and promote international or intercultural understanding (through exposure to cultures other than one’s own).
Among these, the “international” aspect — studying other cultures, living abroad, engaging with international perspectives, and enrolling undergraduate and graduate students from other countries — can be the most challenging to implement. It requires off-campus partnership for assistance with language preparation, travel, insurance, government regulations, and other logistical measures. However, it can significantly enhance domestic and international student learning and elevate an institution’s global reputation. So, what roles do the board of trustees and senior leadership play in supporting these efforts?
The Role of the Board and Senior Leadership
The board of trustees is the governing body that sets policies for degree requirements, academic programs, partnerships, financial aid, risk management, and more. It also monitors key metrics such as enrollment, retention, and net tuition revenue. In the current climate, with demographic shifts predicting an 8% decline in high school students across 38 states, changing public attitudes toward higher education, and rising costs, the board must explore all avenues for attracting students. New research further describes these imminent enrollment challenges for U.S. colleges.
It is the role of the senior leadership to execute the strategies designed to achieve the goals approved by the board.
International Student Enrollment
Historically, international students have been an important source of enrollment. However, in recent years, factors such as increased competition, visa restrictions, and financial barriers have limited the flow of international students to the U.S. Additionally, the number of U.S. students studying abroad has also decreased due to cost and language barriers. While undergraduate enrollment of international students has risen over recent years, the number of graduate students from other countries intersected in U.S. higher education has dropped. The reasons for the decline include competition from universities in other countries, uncertainties about U.S. support for international students, federal funding cuts, and reduced sizes of entering graduate programs resulting from reductions in funding.
In total, however, international student enrollment in the U.S. has reached an all-time high, with students now studying in all 50 states and territories. This marks a significant rebound since the pandemic.
Also, over 400,000 U.S. students are participating in global educational experiences across more than 180 destinations, showing growth compared to the pandemic years. English Language Pathway programs for international students have also increased by almost 7%, with students coming from countries like Japan, France, and Brazil, and states such as California, Florida, and New York continuing to be top destinations. Institutions are recruiting beyond the traditional sources in China and India.
Reducing Barriers to Global Education
For many universities, the cost and complexity of setting up international student recruitment programs can be a significant barrier to entry. Establishing partnerships, navigating visa regulations, developing language support, and providing tailored academic pathways often require substantial upfront investment.
This is where partners like Illume Student Advisory Services can be helpful. Services like these remove many of the financial and logistical barriers that prevent universities from expanding their international reach. Instead of universities needing to invest heavily in creating and maintaining these complex recruitment systems, Illume has established partnerships and expertise to facilitate access to global opportunities.
The service helps universities build sustainable international programs without the high initial setup costs. By streamlining international student recruitment and placement, universities can focus on fostering global engagement and enhancing their academic offerings without the significant financial burden typically associated with building these capabilities from scratch.
Another innovative initiative is modeled by Catalina Global, helping universities scale their global offerings through “Microcampus” initiatives in key countries around the world. These Microcampuses are established on partner university campuses in developing countries and offer the entire foreign degree program in collaboration with the local university partner.
Catalina Global helps in international student recruitment, international campus expansion, pathway program development, and global marketing initiatives. Microcampuses involve shared campus spaces, shared students, collaborative teaching, affordable tuition at local rates, seamless mobility and study abroad, dual degrees, and research collaboration.
Another model is Oxford International which offers partnerships with universities for pathway programs. Students who do not meet direct entry requirements for the partnered university will be considered for placement into the International Year One University Pathway Program. University Pathway students also take general education courses along with English and academic support instruction during their first year. After successful completion of the Year One program, students transition into their second year with flexibility to change their major.
Still another model is StudyPortals, an online platform based in the Netherlands. It has been used by 55 million prospective international students to search for information about prospective programs.
The Role of Senior Leadership in Global Education
The board’s role is to set goals, review strategies, and monitor the results, particularly in relation to enrollment, net tuition revenue, and the institution’s reputation. It is the role of senior leadership to execute the strategies designed to achieve the goals directly and indirectly through outside assistance. By partnering with international education initiatives like those provided by Illume,Catalina Global, Oxford International, and StudyPortals, boards and campus leaders can contribute to the long-term success and global standing of their institutions while minimizing the financial burden associated with setting up international student recruitment infrastructure or scaling their global presence.
