Making International Student Programs Stronger: Why We Need More Data

With more and more countries limiting the influx of international students, the question arises whether there is sufficient data to determine the influence of internationals on the local economies and societies.

On the one hand, those in favour argue that international students can positively impact economic, social and cultural values in their destination country. 

On the other hand, those not in favour argue that international students can negatively impact economic, social and cultural values in their destination country.

The arguments are the same, just reasoned from a different perspective. As a result, the need for clear data has become even more important.

There isn't enough of it right now, and that's a problem! In an article posted by ICEF this week, they reported the need for data to:

• Prove the value of international students. It's not enough to just say they're important. We need facts and figures to show policymakers and communities how much they contribute.
• Improve our programs. By understanding things like student recruitment trends, academic outcomes, and post-graduation paths, we can create programs that better serve international students.
• Advocate for better policies. Solid data helps us make a stronger case for things like streamlined visa processes and work opportunities for international students.

One of the biggest issues is the lack of data on graduate outcomes. There’s no clear data on how many international students get jobs after graduation, what kinds of jobs they are getting, how much they are earning, and where they are living and working.

This lack of information makes it difficult to:

• Attract students: Prospective students want to know that their investment in international education will pay off.
• Secure funding: Universities need to be able to demonstrate the return on investment for international student programs to secure funding from governments and other stakeholders.
• Shape policy: Accurate data on graduate outcomes is essential for informing policy decisions related to immigration, work visas, and international student support.

Both ICEF and The PIE suggest a few things universities can do to start filling this data gap:

• Improve data collection methods. For example, both talk about how the UK stopped calling international students for follow-up surveys to save money, resulting in a much lower response rate. Investing in more effective data collection methods is crucial.
• Work together and be more transparent. The sources emphasize the need for collaboration between universities, governments, and other organizations to create a more comprehensive approach to data collection and analysis.
• Use data to tell a compelling story. It’s not enough to just collect data, we have to present it in a way that is clear, engaging, and persuasive.

Uni-Life is helping gather more data by collecting the needs, wants and concerns of international students before their arrival. On the Uni-Life platform, universities can help international students feel welcome, making them more confident about their study choice.

It is not just important that international students select a study that fits their needs, it is also of the essence that they select an institution that suits them. If they are able to find a close-knit group of friends, build a network and surround themselves with opportunities, international students are also much more likely to hang around after their studies and start contributing more towards the local economy and community.

Curious how Uni-Life does this? Check us out here.