Hello all,
My name is Alina Ilazarova this my third semester in the HEA program. I graduated from Queens College with a BA in Psychology. As a part of my undergraduate career, I was introduced to academic advising and found it rewarding to be able to help students at such an important transition in their lives. Currently, I am a team leader for the behavioral health department in a medical insurance company, and with the help of this program looking to shift gears and become part of the higher education administration team and attain my goal as an academic advisor.
Fundamentally the readings discuss the history and the current changing trends in international of higher education. The readings mainly indicated that the U.S is lagging behind other countries in terms of internalization. This did not come as a surprise, considering my previous courses held multiple debates on how international students are not properly tended to. The readings also indicate the shift to international learning was initiated due to political incentives. The mass amount of International students come from China India and South Korea the enrollment rates of these students are currently declining for the US as opposed to Europe where the rates of international students are on the rise. These numbers indicated that the US would need to come up with a better strategic plan to encompass more students from other countries to complete their higher education studies. Personally, this may become beneficial for U.S in terms of an economical standpoint.
Oxford states that there is a high emphasis on research in higher education that can benefit both parties when it comes too international learning. Furthermore the rise of international age is making very large strides in the changes of higher education as well. Overall study abroad is viewed as a very positive thing that a student can do for ones self. However, I feel that there is very brief mention that it is currently out of reach for many students. Even with scholarship opportunities this is a very costly schooling to an average student from any country. In conclusion I sense that according to these articles , internationalization is not necessarily looking educate the average person, and that countries have found yet another thing to compete over without tending to their populations overall best interests.
I agree with your point regarding the economic benefits of international students in the US. From an economic viewpoint, international students are vital to many public higher ed institutions, where they pay non-resident tuition rates and generally receive no financial aid. However, the task of internationalization falls to the individual institution, rather than at the state level and the governance of their public university systems. This touches on a separate debate of the role of public higher ed institutions, who recruit out-of-state and international students who pay full tuition. Do these students push out state residents from attending their preferred local university? Part of the lack of a broader internationalization initiative may result from a government ‘locals first’ type of mentality.
-Allison Olly
Alina, I like your opinion on study aboard, I can only speak from an American point of view, but what is study aboard like for other nations, do they have America on their list? And what steps are they taking to entice students to do study aboard, and if they are, what type of student are they appealing to. Here in the states the student body is changing, is it changing overseas as well?
I’m not surprised that the rate of international students is on the decline. America has put itself in this bubble were it is number 1, but it would seem the rest of the world knows it’s not completely true. But I believe this country should work on providing for its students 10fold, not necessarily financially, but on a larger scale, before they attract international students.