International students make up an important slice of campus life in Hawai‘i. New figures out this week show the United States remains the top destination in the world for international students. But two countries with Pacific coastlines are making a new push for those who want to study overseas.
Australia and Canada are increasingly popular destinations for international students. That’s according to a new study from the Center for Global Higher Education. One of several groups tracking the movement of international students.
The United States remains the top destination, followed by the U.K., Australia and Canada.
But the Institute of International Education says the number of students coming to the United States is dropping — while enrollments are increasing by double digits in Australia, Canada and elsewhere.
United Nations figures show China still produces the most international students, followed by India.
The Association of International Educators estimates international students contributed 37-billion dollars to the U.S. economy in the latest academic year.
The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism says their economic impact in Hawai‘i was 225 million dollars in the academic year ending in 2017. That’s down from more than 300-million dollars the previous year.
International students studying anywhere in the United States may soon have to pay more for the experience.
According to figures published this week in the Federal Register, the Department of Homeland Security plans to increase visa fees for most international students from between 22 to 75 percent.
