Social Media News

If you’re looking for ways to engage student ambassadors in your international recruitment efforts, join me for a webinar on Aug 31st sponsored by The Ambassador Platform.
Russia is a different beast on a lot of different levels, social media and search platforms included. See where you need to be with this Webcertain guide.
Augmented Reality (AR) is here and is having an increasingly common presence for social media marketing. Are you using it yet in your campus based efforts?
For Instagram, tracking your organic reach and impact is key to understanding how to move forward. Check out this Social Media Examiner piece on how to use Instagram Insights.
When it comes to Instagram reach, these 10 tips make a whole lot of sense, especially using carousel images, captions, and a hashtag formula. Noted!

International Education News

Big Picture Issues

Very interesting perspective on how the State Department consular bureau is a train-wreck at present with huge backlogs of both immigrant and non-immigrant applicants as well as depleted ranks of available consular officers.
Fascinate article in Canada on intl students: “It’s a system that is quietly transforming postsecondary institutions, which have grown dependent on fees from foreign students and therefore on the shadowy world of education agents who deliver them.”
When it comes to graduate international education, we know how heavily dependent some departments are on enrolling overseas students. This NFAP report shares the stats behind this phenomenon.
When various humanitarian crises pop-up around the world that impacts intl education in some way, count on IIE to step into the breach. This new emergency fund for those impacted in Haiti and Afghanistan is well-received.
This Fortune article paints a fairly objective perspective on the issues confronting US institutions and Chinese students over the last 2-3 years: “The deteriorating circumstances for Chinese students, combined with a rising tide of nationalism in China, have made Chinese parents less motivated to send students abroad.”
For those of you with Iranian students this article will feel very familiar. The challenges many of these STEM-focused students have in deciding to come to the US boggles the mind.
US universities are increasingly exploring the need for setting up in-country offices in India. The 3-school University of Illinois system is the latest to tap into this trend.
Even with our closest neighbors to the north, Canadian students and parents are seeking more clarity from the US as to how/when they can return to studies here.

Solutions Central

Stepping back and looking at the impact of Covid-19 on intl student mobility, this article share 3 trends: “Short-term exchange student enrolment numbers decreased markedly. Continuing international degree-seeking student enrolment was stable. Enrolment figures varied when looking closely by institution type.”
A constant debate is how intl admissions offices should be housed at US colleges. This NAFSA RAMA network post shares the different rationales (NAFSA membership required).
If you’re looking for a 30-min podcast on what the road to pre-Covid-19 intl enrollments might be, check out this ICEF Monitor offering looking at the US and UK.
When it comes to strategy and tactics, many colleges’ intl offices tend to confuse the two concepts. This blog from Intead sets the record straight. Did you know tactics can have their own strategies?
The team at QS shares its latest report on student perceptions about the impact of vaccine passports, vaccine rollouts, and covid-19 variants are having on their study desire.

On-Campus Happenings

Mask mandates are returning to campuses this fall as the Delta variant surges nationwide. Who knows how long they’ll last this go around?
One Connecticut college may have cracked the nut of getting students to be vaccinated - thousands of dollars in fines AND the loss of access to campus Wi-Fi - well-played Quinnipiac.
Governors can also have a significant impact on whether individuals get vaccines. In Washington state, Governor Inslee mandates all state higher ed employees (including reticent coaches) must be vaccinated.
As to when campuses should go remote, I think everyone feels more comfortable when a Covid-19 infection rate threshold is established that makes the decision for them. Northern Illinois U set its limit this past week.

Global Roundup

Down Under the English language instruction sector has taken a multi-billion dollar (Australian) beating over the last two years. Many private colleges have moved their ESL programs online as a result of border closures.
At the U of New South Wales, they are thinking outside the box:
“the purpose-built online program – first launched in early 2021 – will ‘tap into a more diverse international student cohort’ by offering a selection of university options.”
China is trying to put the Western genie back in the bottle with this wiping off the books of 300+ uni partnerships without notice. Can’t help but think this is going to backfire spectacularly.
Further evidence of this crackdown is in how the central government in China has virtually decimated the online tutoring industry behind the Great Wall, basically eliminating oversea educators from their ranks.
This article shares the broader ed tech crackdown going on in China that does not bode well for future relationships.
In the UK, educators with ties to Afghanistan are doing all they can to make the case for continued diligence on preserving gains made with institutions in this war-torn country.
It looks like New Zealand is preparing in the last part of 2021 to come out of its self-imposed isolation in a “phased” resumption of business as usual. But will they come?

SMIE Consulting Midweek Roundup

August 23, 2021 edition

On-Campus Happenings

SMIE Consulting Midweek Roundup