Gaming the System, International Student-Style

Gaming the system (also referred to as gaming the rules, bending the rules, abusing the system, milking the system, playing the system, or working the system) can be defined as using the rules and procedures meant to protect a system in order, instead, to manipulate the system for a desired outcome. Here’s a relevant hypothetical … Continue reading Gaming the System, International Student-Style

2013 NAFSA Conference Follow-Up

I greatly appreciated the opportunity to meet with many colleagues at the NAFSA:  Association of International Educators annual conference in St. Louis.  I was gratified by the high level of interest in  Vietnam and the number of new schools that wish to recruit and engage in other activities here.  On a personal note, I was also happy to make my … Continue reading 2013 NAFSA Conference Follow-Up

International Student Recruitment: 2+2 Equals Success

For those with an interest in international student recruitment and the 2+2 formula that has become so popular in recent years (2 years at a US community college + 2 years at a four-year college or university equals a bachelor’s degree), you might want to follow this blog and participate in the on- and offline discussion.  It’s … Continue reading International Student Recruitment: 2+2 Equals Success

SEVIS by the Numbers

SEVIS by the Numbers is a statistical breakdown of the (SEVIS) system's performance and trends in foreign student representation in US academic and exchange programs.  Below is the "latest" SEVIS by the Numbers update.  (Note:  The PPT file has since been removed from the SEVIS website.)  What used to be quarterly updates appear to have changed to biannual … Continue reading SEVIS by the Numbers

Over 100,000 Vietnamese Studied Overseas in 2012

Last year around this time, I wrote a post about about the 100,000+ Vietnamese students who studied in 49 countries and territories in 2011, according to the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET).  90% of them were self-financing.    I conservatively estimated the investment in overseas study to be in the $1+ billion range.  This year's report, released early … Continue reading Over 100,000 Vietnamese Studied Overseas in 2012

“Internationalizing the Community College Campus”

Here's an informative article by Nick Clark, Editor, World Education News & Reviews, that touches on source country trends, receiving institution trends, community colleges as an international model, internationalization challenges, and successful recruiting models.  Vietnam is, of course, an important part of this story. Students at community colleges come from a diverse range of countries, and … Continue reading “Internationalizing the Community College Campus”

Mapping international student segments with recruitment channels

Reposted from DrEducation, a blog by Dr. Rahul Choudaha, Director of Research and Advisory Services at World Education Services (WES), New York—a non-profit with more than 35 years of experience in international education and research.  While Vietnam was not included in this study (i.e., the main focus was on China and India), it does have relevance for Vietnam.  I'll discuss … Continue reading Mapping international student segments with recruitment channels

“Patent Pending: How Immigrants Are Reinventing The American Economy”

While this is not exactly breaking news, I am pleased to see how this trend is being documented in order to build an even stronger case for visa policy reform.  It's an issue that unites key business and political leaders, including President Obama, as well as professional associations such as NAFSA:  Association of International Educators.  This report, issued by The Partnership for a … Continue reading “Patent Pending: How Immigrants Are Reinventing The American Economy”

Beyond Education Agents

An Introduction to Diversifying International Student Recruitment Strategy I'm looking forward to moderating and contributing to this general session at the NAFSA 2012  Annual Conference & Expo during the last week of May in Houston, Texas (USA).  The session is neither a rejection nor a condemnation of the use of education agents, a sometimes problematic approach to international student recruitment, but rather a … Continue reading Beyond Education Agents

SEVIS General Summary Quarterly Review: March 2012

This quarterly report (PDF) is a statistical breakdown of the system’s performance and trends in foreign student representation in U.S. academic and exchange programs. On 2 April 2012, SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) contained records for 1,189,073 active nonimmigrant students, exchange visitors, and their dependents. The total number of records for all F-1, M-1, and … Continue reading SEVIS General Summary Quarterly Review: March 2012