The report, A Lack of Diversity spells Adversity, examines global student flows, geopolitics and visa policies, making the case for why international student diversification is critical for US institutions, equipping them to attract and nurture students from around the world.
“While US institutions have long acknowledged the need to diversify their international student population, there is now an imperative to act, both for reasons of sustainability but also in the interest of increasing access to a high-quality global education,” the report’s author, Rajika Bhandari, told The PIE News.
“The white paper also emphasises the need to better understand what exactly diversity means in the context of international students and the backdrop of diversity issues in the US,” she added.
In addition to shifting demographics, economic factors and global demand for skilled workers, US institutions must navigate the uncertainties of “border closures, travel disruptions, currency fluctuations and governmental interventions”, warns the report.
Published by Oxford International Education Group, it highlights the challenge of balancing institutions’ revenue generation goals with the mission of attracting more diverse international students who are often those who need the most support to be able to afford a costly US education.
The white paper calls for “active advocacy” of institutions to shape immigration policies, with African students particularly impacted by immigration barriers and high visa denial rates.
The report examines the changing regional composition of the US’s international student body since the 70s, characterised by the surge in students from China and subsequently India, and recent growth in demand from the Global South.
India – which sent over 320,000 students to the US in 2023 and surpassed China as the largest source market – is still a “rising economic giant and educational powerhouse” set to have a youth population of 2030, according to the report.
It highlights the impact of geopolitical events, visa processing times and post-graduate opportunities on Indian demand, citing education leaders changing their messaging beyond STEM programs which have traditionally attracted Indian students.
This month, the US embassy in India has opened an additional 250,000 visa appointments to meet growing demand from Indian tourists, skilled workers and students.
While capitalising on opportunities in India, the report warns that “over reliance on students from a handful of countries exposes institutions to potential disruptions due to political, economic, or social changes in those countries and, in some cases, domestically.”
Over reliance on students from a handful of countries exposes institutions to potential disruptions
Rajika Bhandari, Rajika Bhandari advisors
According to the report, students from China and India make up about 52% of all international students in the US, “while regions like Africa and South America continue to be underrepresented”.
Highlighting the increasing pressure of an impending enrolment cliff, US institutions need to think more proactively about diversification strategies, rather than relying on organic push factors in students’ home countries, the report instructs.
It spotlights the emerging source countries of Vietnam, Pakistan and Nigeria, examining students’ motivations, expectations and preferences for studying abroad.
For instance, while most Vietnamese students study in South Korea, Japan and Australia, the country has become “the fifth most significant source of international students for the US”.
Overall, Vietnam represents 37% of the Southeast Asian market, ahead of Malaysia (16%), Indonesia (16%), and Thailand (9%), according to Acumen data.
Recruitment strategies laid out in the report range from leveraging technology and digital engagement to fostering a more inclusive campus environment and strengthening partnerships with global institutions.
It spotlights the efforts of Rutgers University, which has joined forces with other US institutions with better global brand recognition, travelling with them to increase their own application pool.
By capitalising on budding interest in smaller markets such as Bangladesh and Turkey, Rutgers has grown its application pool in both countries “that consistently send us double digit numbers after several years of time invested”.
Furthermore, the report lays out a comprehensive definition of diversity, including the geographic diversity, personal and identity aspects, educational paths and experience, varying socioeconomic backgrounds and cultural and ethnic diversity.
Through this lens, it considers the ongoing challenge of international students being viewed as “monolithic” and questions how the notion of international student diversity aligns with current DEI efforts on US campuses.
For example, despite facing overlapping challenges to first-generation domestic students, international students are often excluded from existing frameworks disadvantage and marginalisation on US campuses, the report notes.
It highlights the shifting US political landscape causing an uncertain future for DEI, with several US states enacting laws banning diversity-related programming at public universities, many of which attract large numbers of international students.
“Such institutions will need to consider how to venture forth with the explicit goal of diversifying their international student body, while also adhering to state mandates,” the report recommends.
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