I want to study abroad. What should I do?

Use of "Agents" by US Institutions

In my quick analysis of the higher educational landscape in the US, there appears to be several categories of institutions:
1. Those that are against the use of agents because they have a philosophical, moral, and ethical disagreement with the very idea of paying someone to recruit a student.
2. Those that use agents, but rather not speak about it publicly because they are concerned that it may affect their brand or image
3. Those that use agents and are open and enthusiastic about it
4. Those that wish they could use agents, but do not have the support of their top administration.
5. Those that are researching the idea, but are yet to make a decision.
6. Those that have no interest at all in the topic because international student recruitment is not high priority. What did I miss?

In the meantime, UK, Canadian, and Australian universities are efficiently and enthusiastically using agents to achieve their recruitment goals, while US institutions are waiting and watching. Further, many international students are making institutional choices based on what their agent tells them. Sometimes they make the right choice if they are working with the right agent, and at other times they realize too late that they received the wrong advice. US institutions interested in international student recruitment must engage in open discussions on this issue if we are to attract the best and the brightest. Is anyone aware of list of US institutions that use agents?

Dr. Uma G. Gupta is the President of USAsiaEdu, a higher education consulting company, that offers cross-cultural recruitment, retention, and transitional services for institutions. She can be reached at exec@USAsiaEdu.com

Community Colleges Expand their Focus on International Students

If you are a community college that is not paying close attention to recruiting international students, well, you must. Recent trends show a steady and impressive increase of number of international students at community colleges in the United States. In some cases, it is serendipity. Students simply seem to show up at the doors of community colleges even without any specific or targeted recruiting effort on the part of these institutions. (Many four-year institutions and graduate schools would love to have this problem!) Others are focused on international student recruitment because they are committed to campus diversity; and yet others understand the importance of international students to their bottom line and to their articulation partners.

Regardless of the reasons for expanding international student recruitment, community colleges face both enormous opportunities and a few noteworthy challenges. The opportunities are that there is a growing middle class in countries like India and China. The US educational brand is still strong and impressive around the world.

 The challenges are in many parts of the world decision-makers, including students and parents, do not fully understand the role of community colleges in higher education and those who understand do not always subscribe to the value of a community college education. There is still some "prestige" issues associated with community colleges in the minds of some.

Regardless, these barriers can be overcome and must be overcome. Community colleges provide superior education at a dream price! They add value and nurture students in impressive ways.

USAsiaEdu offers international student recruitment fairs tailored for community colleges. Contact exec@USAsiaEdu.com for further details.

Putting "Education" Back in Higher Education

I am not the first one to moan, worry, and sweat about how today holding a degree or diploma means very little. International education, in places like India, face the same fate. Once upon a time you could safely assume that a college degree or diploma holder could read, write, do basic math, understand fundamental business and economic principles, and have some awareness of the world around him or her. Today, these assumptions are no longer true and many frustrated employers will attest to it. In fact, even many students will happily confess that they want a college degree not because they want to learn, but because they want to get a job – any job that pays well! And all this is happening while the cost of college tuition sky rockets and parents and students pay dearly to get that piece of paper!

 

Ironically this situation exists primarily because those who are paying for a college degree are not engaged in taking a closer look at college admissions, classroom instruction, or “life thereafter” including jobs, career prospects, and income potential. The words “dumb, fat, and happy” come to mind; “sleeping at the wheel” comes to mind; and more tragically, “the next bubble to burst” comes to mind.

 

So if you are a parent looking for a good college for your child, I recommend that you set aside the glossy brochures and the marketing hype, ignore the phone calls from admission counselors, and instead dig deep into the college, its curriculum, and its graduates.

 

1. Think about selecting a college the same way you think about buying a car or a house. You don't buy a house or a car because the paint color looks good. You don't select a college because they were "nice to me during orientation," or they have good social clubs, or their brochures showed a diverse student body.
2. Once you have narrowed your list of colleges, write down five "fact-based" reasons why you think this is the best college for your child or for yourself. If you can't get past Reason 1 - smell trouble and run.
3. Touring a campus is great, but no employer gave a student a job because he or she graduated from a "good-looking" campus. Instead, delve deep into the background of the faculty, career placement, quality of students that are admitted, and average salaries of their graduates. If the college responds that such information is not available, buy a big red flag and wave it as high as you can.

More to follow!

Dr. Uma Gupta is an educational consultant who helps US colleges and universities expand their market presence and brand identity in India and is an expert on international student recruitment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Challenges of international student recruitment

There is hardly a college or university that is not planning to expand its base of international students in the United States and yes, there is hardly a college or university in the United States or anywhere in the world that is not facing hurdles and unexpected challenges in achieving this goal. International student recruitment is more than "tours" to a country. It entails understanding the political, social, economic, and cultural systems and nuances of the country, learning to navigate these systems successfully, and more important, creating lasting and deep roots in the country to have a sustained presence in the country. Without a long-term, well thought out strategic plan for campus internationalization, efforts to recruit international students becomes a futile endeavor in which colleges throw good money at transient goals.

There are three pillars at the core of a good internationalization strategic plan.

1. Define what your institution means by internationalization. Is it attracting a few students from Canada? Is it attracting some students from all over the world? Is it focused on certain parts of the world, based on existing ties your institution may have with that part of the world? Ask yourself the question, "What do we mean by internationalization and what parts of the world make the most sense to us and why?"

2. Penetration is the key: Once you have identified the regions of the world from which you wish to attract students, plan a marketing blitz in that country. Often, many US institutions naively assume that simply because they are well-known in the US, they must be well known and well regarded in other parts of the world. This is not true. You must build your brand and your image in the country or countries of your choice. Once you have a brand, then word of mouth will attract high quality students to your campus and you can systematically reduce your marketing dollars.

3. Understand the educational system of your targeted country: This is key to attracting high quality students. You must have intimate knowledge about the educational system and standards of your target country. Understand the quality factors that define the educational parameters in your targeted country. Gain in-depth knowledge about the grading systems and do your research to find out the aspirations of good students so that your marketing is effective.

In short, campus internationalization is not about planting a few flags on your campus drive. It requires a passion and commitment to truly understand other cultures and yes, it requires enormous patience and perseverance.

Dr. Uma Gupta is the President of Global Cube, a company that serves as a gateway between US colleges and universities and those in India.

Indian universities attract international students in record numbers.

India now competes with US colleges and universities to attract students from all over the world and based on recent statistics India appears to be doing remarkably well. SiliconIndia reported in an article dated August 12, 2008 that several universities in India enjoyed record enrollment of foreign students, including Indira Gandhi University and Manipal Academy of Higher Education. International student recruitment is now a high priority for a growing number of colleges and universities in India.

Several colleges and universities are building new residential campuses and paying close attention to ensure that they not only offer exceptional classroom instruction but are also paying close attention to the unique needs of international students. The cost of earning a degree in India is pittance compared to an US education and an added bonus is many multinationals are eager to hire graduates from good Indian institutions. A win-win for India and for international students!

Global Cube Consultants (www.globalcubeIT.com) specializes in tie ups between US colleges and universities and those in India.