Foreign students have returned to pre-pandemic levels. Hare announced(March 13, 2022), "International student numbers at universities have bounced back to above pre-pandemic levels, with the number of students commencing studies higher than in 2019"." This is encouraging news, but the flow will take time to manifest at the MBA level across the country. What we do know is that the Australian MBA is still in high demand, both from public and private institutions, also having high demand in international MBA students. According to ICEF, "the market is beginning to recover: the number of visas granted to international students was up by 34% in December 2021 versus December 2020.  There are concerns about a potentially weak return of Chinese students." Concerns have been raised despite the potential for a poor return of Chinese students. Universities' over-reliance on the Chinese market resulted in some drastic cuts and reductions — perhaps, lessons have been learned. Return to face-to-face mode on campus. However, whether students desire to return to campus is a complex topic with an equally complex set of responses. The student answer at UBSS (Group Colleges of Australia, March 2022) is that 94 percent of MBA students choose to stay online — hardly a call to campus. There is a case that can be made that the country of origin influences the mode of delivery preference. Chinese students seem to favor the off-shore – online alternative, whilst Indian and Nepalese students want to be on-shore, although not necessarily on campus. Work possibilities play a big role in these inclinations. The existing freedoms granted to international students in terms of working hours may be driving the onshore online alternative. The issue is the long-term influence on course development, which is required to keep a student VISA. [caption id="attachment_1020" align="alignnone" width="671"] COVID-19 impacted students to take at least one online course. Source: World Economic Forum[/caption] Going Back to Hybrid has a chance to win. Hybrid mode - the capacity to study on campus or online with the ability to switch back and forth – is likely to be the way to go, at least in the short term (one to two years). Positive cases and associated close-downs and extensive cleaning regimes provide significant hurdles – not to mention money – due to the complexity of getting workers and students back on campus. Classrooms are transformed into TV studios, with a smaller live audience and a large number of online viewers. As the formal COVID-19 constraints are being eased, this idea becomes a real possibility. The most successful technique, however, necessitates personnel returning to campus and being supported by cutting-edge technology. Read more: Biden’s Plan to Double Pell Grants

For any political science major, there is always time and place to learn about Chinese politics. China is such a huge part of global politics, and to not teach about Chinese politics in a political science course would be like teaching a physics course without algebra. Sometimes colleges require certain majors to take a mandatory course on Chinese politics because of how influential it is to international politics. However, it has become increasingly difficult to have an objective view of China without offending Chinese international students or hiring a professor without a bias toward China.

Why is it a tricky subject?

China has such an interesting influence on the world stage, yet it has a negative reputation. It has violated many human rights, has strict censorship laws, and is far from democracy. But, contrary to popular belief, many Chinese people acknowledge that China is not perfect. They understand its flaws and know China has its shortcomings when they study overseas. The issue is that some Chinese international students believe that negative facts about China taught by a non-Chinese national professor are propaganda or misinformation. Problem also arises when Chinese national professors are employed outside China and teach positive facts about their country in lectures—some students may assume that their Chinese professors have a bias towards China, distrusting them for the rest of the course. [caption id="attachment_419" align="aligncenter" width="669"] Graph: Spring 2021 Global Attitudes Survey. Q6a., Pew Research Center[/caption] It is not an unwarranted problem to worry about professors mixing their own opinions into the lectures. As the survey above done by the Pew Research Center shows, many countries agree that China does not respect personal freedoms in China. Despite what many people believe worldwide, many people from mainland China may disagree. Such disparity in perceptions and opinions appears to be the reason for criticism by some Chinese populations in universities. And with a large Chinese international student population in colleges across the U.S., this is not a problem to overlook for universities.

Importance of Teaching Chinese Politics

Since China has an undeniable presence and influence on the world stage, Chinese politics is a subject that colleges must keep on their curriculum list. Although professors may have different opinions on China from each other or their students, schools should not prevent professors knowledgeable on the subject from teaching. Furthermore, it is certain that having a good understanding of China’s political agenda and how it affects international relations is crucial for students who aim to become policy officers or government representatives in the future.   Read More: Japanese Version of China Initiative Raises Questions for Universities

The change was unanimously accepted by the California State University Board of Trustees, aligning the country’s largest four-year university system with the “test free” admissions method already in place at the University of California college system. The California State University system has 477,000 students enrolled in its 23 colleges around the state, while the University of California system has approximately 280,000 students enrolled in its ten campuses. Last year, the University of California Board of Regents agreed to eliminate the necessity for standardized test admissions at its undergraduate schools, which include the famed UC Berkeley and UCLA campuses. Acting Chancellor of the California State University system, Steve Relyea, applauded the decision, saying that it will help “level the playing field and enable greater access to a high-quality college degree for students from all backgrounds.” Critics have long claimed that standardized tests harm minority and low-income college candidates, making them ineligible for admission. Students from wealthier families can afford to pay for expensive standardized test preparation classes that often help them improve their scores. “In essence, we’re getting rid of a high-stress, high-stakes test that hasn’t shown any benefit,” Relyea said in a statement. During the pandemic, California’s public colleges, like many others around the country, postponed the exams and did not require them during the college admissions process for the 2021–22 and 2022–23 academic years. According to Bob Schaeffer, executive director of FairTest, a Boston-based anti-testing organization, more than 1,800 schools and universities, or about 80 percent of U.S. four-year campuses, have implemented test-optional or score-free policies for fall 2022 applicants. The decision by the State of California and the university systems in California to make the ban permanent will “establish a norm for public higher education across the country,” Schaeffer says. “It’s no coincidence that identical policies are now in place in so many other public systems, from Washington state to Maine,” he said, “the entire country is watching California and, for the most part, following its lead.” [caption id="attachment_1894" align="alignnone" width="1024"] CSU is a public university system with 23 campuses across California. The change it makes will greatly affect hundreds of thousands of its applicants. Photo: Justefrain / Licensed under CC BY 3.0[/caption] Students can still submit SAT or ACT results, which will not be evaluated for admissions but may aid in their placement for English and math courses, according to Toni Molle, a spokesman for the California State University system. During the pandemic, the system suspended the requirement for standardized tests. Instead, it relied on a “multi-factor admissions score” that allowed campuses to consider applicants’ GPA, extracurricular activities, and leadership roles, as well as whether they were first-generation college applicants or came from schools with a high percentage of low-income students. A systemwide advisory panel comprised of teachers, students, administrators, and student leaders researched whether the tests should be eliminated and made a recommendation to the Cal State college system’s board of trustees. Diego Arambula, a board trustee, said it was critical to remove the mandate because “lowering the stress and injustice that exists now is crucial.” Yammilette Rodriguez, another board trustee, believes that eliminating standardized examinations will help children avoid the difficulties she faced as a student at a rural high school that “lacked college support.” She had a 4.0 GPA, but she had no choice but to attend a community college before transferring to California State University, Fresno because she missed SAT deadlines.   Read More: Covid Brings All-Time Low Acceptance Rates

Any international students living outside the U.S. and currently choosing a college or university will understand that it’s hard to pick the right one. As online reviews of colleges are plagued with bias and videos made by colleges are more for entertainment and advertisement, taking an objective look at the schools is harder than ever before. They mostly try to show off their fancy campuses and rankings on their websites. Instead, ranking systems from companies, like U.S. News and QS Top Universities, are often one of the few options that people use to find the right college for themselves. But what the ranking is based on might surprise you.

How Universities are Ranked

Now, to understand how the majority of colleges are ranked, you have to take a look at the framework behind it. For example, although the international student ratio and international faculty ratio each take up only five percent of the QS Top Universities’ ranking system, they play a massive role in many universities’ revenue. In-state residents pay $10,740 a year on average on tuition while international students pay no less than $25,000 per year on average. More international students means more money. And more money means that colleges can afford more professors to boost their student-faculty ratio, which makes up 20 percent of the ranking criteria. That’s how it’s supposed to be, right? The more money colleges have, the higher quality of education they will provide. [caption id="attachment_409" align="alignnone" width="1130"] You can see that under the QS Top Universities ranking system, most higher-ranked colleges score high in the international students ratio criterion.[/caption] Unfortunately, however, that seems to be not the case. One of the major flaws with this system is that it can misrepresent the quality of education each school provides. For instance, colleges can put limits on certain classes to control their teacher-to-student ratio numbers. Such practice causes students’ access to the best professors to be restricted to a small number of people. This wouldn’t be a problem if all of the professors were amazing, but that is not true in reality. It could be the case that a college has some amazing professors, but you might never be able to take their classes due to the enrollment cap. It would be a lie to say rankings don’t matter, but just remember that the criteria for rankings do not factor in every single detail of what makes a good education and a university.

Financial Aid

Another mistake made by many international students is the amount of financial aid that is available to them. The amount of financial aid is extremely limited for international students as most of the aid goes to in-state students. But it’s not non-existent. According to U.S. News, among 890 undergraduate institutions, the average financial aid an international student received was roughly $20,867 during the 2020–2021 academic year. Make sure to search online or contact the college of your interest for the amount of financial aid they can offer, so you don’t miss out on any.   Read More: Financial Pressure and Stress; College Students Dropping out

Financial Pressure and Stress; College student’s Reason for Dropping Out

Although taking care of college student’s mental health and their financial burden has been a hot topic in the recent years, it still hasn’t been solved and has been exacerbated by the pandemic. The pandemic actually helped the public realize the detrimental effects of having poor mental health, with 46 percent of Americans reporting having poor mental health during the peak of the pandemic and the lockdowns. The awareness for people to take care of their own mental health is not a social norm. [caption id="attachment_384" align="alignnone" width="610"] About 60% of the reasons for dropping out of colleges are related to mental health and financial issues. Source: Education Data[/caption]

Financial Issues

Financial issues have always been on the forefront of education costs in the US. With wages staying the same but college and university costs climbing year by year, its not the hard to see why 38% of college dropouts dropped out due to financial shortcomings. Yes, there are student loans and financial aid programs, but in the end, an average student pays around $10,675 per year. Coming from poor families or no support from their families result in students taking out a student loan. Student loans are a widely debated topic, but the benefits of a student loan are questionable. Knowing you have a loan is also one of the reasons of financial stress for college students.  

Mental Health

Even though the reason for dropping out because of mental health is only three percent, poor social fit is also considered a strong reason for mental stress. Especially after the pandemic, where tensions are higher because of political discussion on masks and vaccines, colleges have become more hostile. And after so many lockdowns are lack of social contact, going back to when things are normal has been difficult. That is why colleges are starting programs to combat mental stress with free therapy and recreational programs. Read More: Disrupted Flight Paths from Asia to Europe

Facts and Future Viewpoints about Standardized Testing Before COVID-19, some schools had already abandoned the testing requirement. However, for the time being, most schools and universities in the United States are test-optional. Aviva Legatt, an Ardmore native and founder of Ivy Insight, a college admissions advising firm, explained, "The purpose behind it was twofold." The goal was to level the playing field for underrepresented and low-income students at first. According to Dr. Aviva Legatt, "several studies demonstrate that the test is culturally biased." "White people tend to score better on it and are more likely to receive tutoring, exam preparation, and other services." Then there was COVID-19. "Colleges didn't want to miss out on applicants who would have taken the test but couldn't—or couldn't study in the manner they wanted to," Legatt explains. While test-optional institutions don't compel students to transmit their test scores, there's nothing stopping an admissions official from looking at them if one is sent—and this could influence a choice. Test-blind colleges, on the other hand, will not consider scores in admissions decisions, even if they are provided. "If you have a score that is at or above pre-pandemic levels for that college, you should submit it in," Legatt advises students from middle- and upper-class communities who are more likely to have access to test prep and testing locations. It's clear to see how the test-optional shift has added to the application process's uncertainty. "Based on students' GPA and test results, high schools generally had a notion of the number of students they could anticipate to get into a particular college," says Legatt. "Without the test scores, kids are finding it more difficult to construct college lists and forecast where they will be accepted." It has also encouraged pupils to apply to universities they previously would not have explored. "No one can have a crystal ball and know for sure," Legatt adds, "but admissions outcomes have a lot more fluctuation." "The goal is wonderful, but for many candidates, the actual experience has added to their stress and hardship." [caption id="attachment_1007" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The number of UC Applicants exploded after making standardized testing optional. Source: University of California[/caption] The decision to go test-optional is never final. Following the pandemic, several universities may reinstate the testing requirement. Harvard University declared that it will keep its test-optional policy in place until 2026, with the dean of admissions stating that students who do not submit scores will not be penalized. There has been no formal decision on testing at Villanova University. Candice Keith, Villanova's director of admission operations, adds, "We don't know what's going to happen in the next year or two." "A student should undoubtedly plan and prepare to take it, depending on what grade they are in." Read more: Food Shortages in the U.S.

For high school and college seniors across the United States, graduation can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you want to be a rise in the world and be proud of your accomplishments. A simple query, on the other hand, might cause a world of trouble. Fortunately, a growing trend in America offers a wonderful answer to this dilemma, with scientific proof to back it up: taking a gap year. It has been scientifically proved that students who take a gap year outperform their peers academically. Why, if having a gap year is beneficial to children, is it such a divisive topic among American families, and why does the idea make parents and students nervous? Many parents are concerned that their children will be unproductive during the gap year and will be less likely to pursue a better education afterward. Surrounding facts, on the other hand, refute this view, pointing instead to the value of taking a gap year. "Nine out of ten students returned to college within a year," writes Karl Haigler, author of "The Gap-Year Advantage," and "60 percent stated the time off had either inspired or reaffirmed their choice of vocation or academic major." [caption id="attachment_932" align="alignnone" width="398"] Book: The Gap-Year Advantage[/caption] With these figures in mind, students and parents frequently overlook how a gap year can help reduce serious difficulties such as burnout. Furthermore, they fail to acknowledge burnout as a legitimate indication of student distress. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental weariness characterized by a lack of motivation, poor performance, and bad attitudes toward oneself and others if you're unfamiliar with the term. Due to the additional burden that the coronavirus pandemic has placed on academic institutions, it appears that the issue is affecting students at a more worrisome rate. According to a study done by The Ohio State University, 71 percent of students felt burned out in April 2021, compared to just 40 percent in August 2020, a significant rise of 31 percent. Increased levels of burnout among college students are more than just an interesting trend or topic of conversation. According to the same Ohio State study, students who took part in the survey were more likely to report increasing alcohol and cigarette use, as well as unhealthy eating habits, as a result of their burnout. As previously stated, data demonstrates that taking a gap year can help people recover from burnout. A study published in the National Library of Medicine found that gap years were related to lower levels of burnout in medical school. Students who took gap years, on the other hand, had much less burnout. Many people are hesitant to take a gap year because it isn't considered the "traditional" path to success for professionals and high achievers. Students should make judgments based on what is best for them and rely on accurate data to help them make the best decision possible. Unfortunately, many kids and their parents believe that taking a gap year will prevent them from returning to school, and as a result, many will miss out on the great chances that such a sabbatical can provide. Read more: How will Test-Optional affect Students?

Online courses and programs have been highly successful and has become a popular choice for students who don’t mind taking classes online. Many universities are making their classes available online even after their campus’ have opened up and live classes have returned. Due to numerous universities venturing into the online education market, it has become overflooded with amateur, below par online programs. Choosing a university to attend live is straightforward. You can view the classrooms you will be attending classes in, look at the list of professors you will be taught by, and the quality of life around the campus. But for an online university program, it is much more difficult to get a grasp of the educational experience you will be receiving.   [caption id="attachment_355" align="alignnone" width="714"] (How would you compare the instruction of your college-level online learning experiences with your college-level classroom experiences?) Most people don't notice a difference in quality if the course is taught online. Source : Statista[/caption]

Online Program Services

While attending a university online, your interaction with the university will predominantly be online. Due to the communication between you and the university being online, it is crucial to make sure the university has a streamlined online communication platform. Some universities hire teams just for interacting with online students and you should always look universities that have these dedicated teams.

Live or Recorded Lectures?

There are predominantly two types of online programs; recorded lectures and live online lectures. Making sure you find out if the online program the university offers are recorded lectures or live online lectures is crucial to understanding what your educational experience will be like in those programs. Having live online lectures requires you to attend classes on time and possibly interact with the professors. Recorded lectures, on the other hand, tend to have a more relaxed attendance period and little to no interactivity with the professors. In summary, live online lectures offer a more of a traditional class experience online, while the recorded lectures are leaning into the full online education experience.

Part time or Full-time education

One of the options when attending an online university program is the considerable availability in part-time programs. Especially if you are currently employed but want a graduate degree to progress your professional career, a part-time online program is ideal. On the contrary, if you are out of a job and are left with a year of free time, a full-time one-year program could help you secure a higher job position. In summary, choosing either a full-time or part-time online program entirely depends on your time availability.

Conclusion

Choosing the correct program and university for an online education is no simple endeavor. Thorough research of the university’s online program is key to ensuring you pick the correct online program for you. These are some of the important questions you should ask yourself about the online programs of your choice.

• Do they offer high-quality online support?
• Are the classes live lectures or recorded lectures?
• Do they offer part-time education or is full-time the only option?

Read more: Australia's Effort to bring in more International Students in 2022  

International student numbers worldwide plummeted when the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020. It is reported that international student numbers in US colleges declined by 15% and new international student enrollment fell by an astonishing 46%.  Australia also suffered a massive decline of overseas students with strict Covid-19 lockdowns and completely closing its borders during the height of the pandemic. Australia's international student population is down by 21% in 2022 compared to 2021. But with its country’s borders opened and universities beginning offline classes due to relaxed covid restrictions, universities and the Australian government are scrambling to regain their international student population.  

What the Australian Government is doing to boost its international student population

The Australian Government’s Department of Education, Skills, and Employment has released a plan to help international students in 2021, the Australian Strategy for International Education, for 2021-2030. In the Australian Strategy for International Education, they acknowledge that international students “[B]rings many economic, cultural, and social benefits” to the Australian people and businesses. [caption id="attachment_345" align="aligncenter" width="543"] Australian Department of Education have released the Australian Strategy for International Education, looking to boost international student numbers after the steep decline.[/caption] The four main goals of the Australian Strategy for International education are the following: Diversification -Diversifying student cohorts, source countries, and offering to capitalize on digital and offshore opportunities Meeting Australia’s skills needs -Delivering international education that meets Australia’s skills needs and fostering quality partnerships for research and collaboration Students at the centre -Strengthening connections between international students and Australian students and communities, enhancing people-to-people links through international education mobility, and student experience and wellbeing Growth and global competitiveness -Maintaining a strong quality framework to ensure continued growth and ensuring global competitiveness

The Focus on Chinese International Students

Although this is the right direction for Australia, it will take time to return to the peak numbers of international students of 2019. One of the major reasons for the decrease of international students are the steep decline of Chinese international students. In 2019, Australia had over 200,000 Chinese international students, accounting for 28 percent of the international student population in Australian universities. Currently, in 2022, the number of Chinese international student has halved; with 104,334 Chinese international students attending Australian universities. This significant drop can be attributed towards the pandemic, but there are far more factors to consider when looking at the relationship with China and Australia. In 2020, the trade war between China and Australia hit its peak. With China accusing Australia of siding with the US on the "anti-China campaign", they hit Australia with crippling trade sanctions. One of these sanctions were on the coal exports and before the sanctions, 58% of Australia's coal exports were sold to China. This worsened the Australian economy which was already being affected by the pandemic and fostered animosity between China and Australia. With political tensions and rampant racism due to the pandemic, Australian universities has become an unattractive place for Chinese students. [caption id="attachment_958" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Australian coal exports has been banned by China since 2020[/caption] It is hard to say how much this strategy will affect future international student numbers. Even though this strategy was in use since late 2021, Australia’s borders only opened in late February of 2022. It is yet to be seen if the relaxed covid restrictions, opened borders, and the effort of the government will raise their international student population to pre-pandemic numbers. And with Chinese overseas students at an all time low globally, it may never recover. If you want to read the official document released by the Australian government on their Australian Strategy for International Educaiton, you can download it in the link below. Link: Australian Strategy for International Education Official Document Read More: How the Russian Invasion of Ukraine is Effecting its Education  

Despite the type of colleges, all colleges have experienced numerous declines in student numbers. The standard four-year undergraduate program offered by the colleges and universities experienced a loss, but the community school hit the most considerable hardship. Their group of students consists of a diverse range of people from students with financial difficulty, mature students, and students with different ethnic backgrounds. Due to this nature, they experienced over 13% of enrollment diminished in the past two years.

What’s happening in U.S. universities?

Fewer people applying to attend universities in the U.S. are not limited to certain demographic or regions. According to the data released by the non-profit news organization Bridge Michigan, Michigan state received less than 17,500 high school graduates from their expected predictions into their state colleges.

Pandemic was a decisive factor, but it was not the starting cause of the reduction. Oakland University experienced a fall in enrollment in 2019 with a decrease of 2,100 students. With active students of 12,500 students, the numbers are comparably lower when compared with the peak number in 2016. It is added on top of the decrease in the retention rate of students regardless of the demographic group. Dawn Aubry, a vice president for admission management, stated that students with minority backgrounds or other underrepresented backgrounds showed fewer retention rates notably.

There is also a rising issue of students choosing to not attend college even with their acceptance in the fall of 2021. Its significance is noticeable when looked at in numbers, with an over 48% increase of students choosing not to attend. Aubry explains, “It is important to reconcile with the students who are not currently studying with us even though they have accepted our offer. Our role is to assist students in understanding what the university can offer to them and its benefits.”

Effect of a university degree in the future

Despite the prospective students deciding to enter the career market as high school graduates, research conducted by Georgetown University opposed the advantage of commencing a job over an undergraduate degree. According to the data, the median wage of high school graduates earns 75% less than those with a bachelor’s degree during their lifetime career. Aside from the difference in pay, having a bachelor’s degree holds two significant advantages over a high school graduate. Firstly, they will likely have more career paths with higher satisfaction, and they are likely to be more flexible in the job market by finding a new job quicker even if they lose one.

Sarah Sattelmever, project director of education, opportunity, and mobility at New America, a think tank at Washing D.C., agreed on the benefit of gaining an undergraduate degree over the entering job market after high school. “University degree will become more powerful if people are not deciding to take it. It might not be the best life decision to enter the university, but it is undoubtedly to say it will provide the most stable path for financial advantage. At a time like this, it could become an opportunity in the future.”

Money to pay for meals before the tuition fee

Numerous causes can explain universities suffering from a lack of enrollment in the U.S. The biggest reason is the high tuition fee. The high tuition fee was a long-time dilemma for U.S. schools. While it was initially considered an expense with a burden, the pandemic has driven people to be more financially cautious. It could be prospective students deciding to work with financial hardship, or the degree’s value has become less attractive when the course is taught online due to the Covid restrictions. Covid also impacted the recruiters from visiting the high school for active promotions from the corresponding school.

Relationship between the school and the economic market

Another factor in choosing a job over labor is the alluring job market. Employers are offering higher payments with the shortage of labor, especially in the hospitality and low-skilled career industry. Therefore, workers in this industry do not need to obtain a university degree. Sattelmevever proposed an opinion on the relationship between the economy and the school. “When we look at the economy at a certain time, it has an opposite influence on the school. People will decide to study more during the recession as it's harder to find a job. People will decide to work rather than study if there is an economic boom.”

Although the relationship between the economy and the school was genuine in the past years, it was passive during the pandemic. Despite the contracted economy, students have decided not to study. According to Sattelmever, the pandemic has changed the environment of the study to online, and lack of access to fast internet and technology is prevalent. She continued, “Many schools have received financial support from their local and state governments. However, the problem is still underlined, and it is time to consider a long-term solution for the school’s sustainability.

Attempting to lure students back to campus

If there are no students in the school, it harms society long term. Michigan is experiencing a lack of graduates with skills obtained explicitly from college. A shared problem in the U.S. is that there is a demand but a shortage for many specialists in areas like I.T. experts and engineers for higher economic growth.
To help with this drought of graduates, schools attempt to gain students’ interest back in school. It is done through offering scholarships programs, consulting individual students who have decided to drop out, and organizing recruiting campaigns.
The admission team at Oakland University is tackling this issue by changing its method of approaching prospective students. They are running a campaign called Golden Grizzlies Graduates, where they provide better explanations to people to start a degree at the current time. They highlight the benefits of gaining an undergraduate degree and the financial grants with resources that the students can gain from the school.

Read More: U.S. Gap Year Statistics