The United States is the number 1 destination in the world for international students, thanks to its diverse educational sector.
For the fifth consecutive year, the United States welcomed over 1 million international students during the 2019-2020 academic year, according to the latest Open Doors report, produced by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the State Department (ECA).
The Open Doors report kicks off the 21st International Education Week (IEW), which takes place annually. IEW is a joint initiative of the U.S. Departments of State and Education to highlight the mutual benefits of international education and exchange between countries around the world.
“It is gratifying to see a fifth year of over 1 million international students in the United States before the pandemic,” said Marie Royce, acting Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
“International student mobility is as important today as ever, and we believe that the United States is the best destination for students to study and earn their degrees. Education is a pathway to a greater future, and international educational exchange has the power to transform students’ trajectories.” — Marie Royce, Assistant Secretary of State.
During the 2019-2020 academic year, most international students came from China, India, and South Korea to the United States. Compared to the previous year, there was a 7% increase in the number of students from Bangladesh and a 2.5% increase in the number of students from Nigeria.
The most popular study destinations for international students are California and New York, according to the report. Texas and Massachusetts were the third and fourth choices for international students due to the number of top-tier universities in those states.
More than half of international students graduated in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), with Business Administration, Management, and Social Sciences being the next important fields of study.
The United States is not just a destination for those looking to study in STEM fields. This year also saw a 2.2% increase in the number of international students pursuing Fine Arts and Applied Arts.
Meanwhile, students from the United States continue to seek undergraduate programs abroad in large numbers. More than 347,000 American students studied abroad during the 2018–2019 academic year, an increase of 1.6% compared to the previous year.
The United Kingdom and Italy were the top choices for American students, followed by Spain and France.
However, the number of American students studying in South Korea increased by 16% compared to the previous year, suggesting that American students are increasingly interested in studying abroad in countries beyond those located in Europe.
The Open Doors report 2019–2020 was compiled before the Covid-19 pandemic affected education worldwide.
But there are reasons to believe that the pandemic will not negatively impact global education in the long term, said Allan Goodman, president and CEO of IIE.
Covid-19 is the 12th pandemic in IIE’s 101-year history. During other pandemics, IIE was able to track trends in international education and found that after a pandemic, international exchange quickly rebounded.
“While pandemics cause enormous hardships and disruptions, there are also strong reasons for optimism,” he said. “After each of them, international educational exchange resumes quickly, and the number of students involved also grows substantially.”
Source: www.share.america.gov