Foreign Enrollments increases in U.S. Graduate Schools

Enrollments of new international students at American graduate schools grew by 8 percent this fall, the strongest showing since 2006, according to a report released Tuesday by the Council of Graduate Schools. While the news is clearly good for American higher education, much of that growth came from a single country: China.

"If the growth is all being driven by one country, that's probably not a healthy thing for U.S. graduate schools," said Nathan E. Bell, director of research and policy analysis at the council.

Each year the council surveys its 494 member institutions to determine what the international-student market looks like, measuring applications, admissions, and enrollments at various points throughout the year. This year, 237 of its member institutions responded to the fall survey on enrollments.

The findings this year make clear China's continued dominance in the United States. Last year China surpassed India as the top country sending students, with more than 127,600 Chinese enrolled in colleges and universities in the United States. Of those, about 66,000 were enrolled in graduate programs. This fall, according to the council's survey, enrollments of new Chinese graduate students grew 21 percent, continuing several years of double-digit growth.

The number of students from the Middle East and Turkey rose 14 percent, reflecting steady growth from the region. Although the overall numbers are relatively small.

Indian enrollments grew only 2 percent, but that was an improvement over several years of shrinking numbers. Similarly, enrollments from South Korea, the third-largest sending country, were flat, which was relatively good news as they follow several years of decline.

Total international-student enrollments grew by just 2 percent over last year, reflecting the slower or flat growth of recent years.

While China's enrollment growth closely mirrored an earlier council survey measuring admissions offers, enrollments of Indian students grew much less than their offers of admission, which rose 8 percent.

"International students have always recognized and continue to recognize the quality of U.S. graduate schools," he said. Still, he added, "we can't rest on our laurels. If we want to continue to attract the best and the brightest, it takes work," said Mr. Bell.

The 8 percent growth in first-year students is a marked improvement for American graduate schools, which have been fighting against a sluggish U.S. economy and a global economic downturn. In the fall of 2010, first-time enrollments grew only 3 percent over the previous year, while in 2009, when the recession's impact was first felt, there was no increase over 2008. This year's growth marks the highest rate of increase since the fall of 2006, when graduate schools experienced a 12-percent rise over the previous year.

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Sorrowful loan recipients

A Malaysian student who received a PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund Corporation) loan of RM39,000, three years ago, for undergraduate studies which was successfully completed in Malaysia.

Soon after receiving a degree, an application to the corporation for a deferment of the loan repayment was made. As the student had been accepted to pursue a one-year master’s programme at the University of Southampton, United Kingdom (UK).

"My father had agreed to financially support me while I applied for a JPA (Jabatan Perkhidmatana Awan or Public Services Department) scholarship for the master’s programme" said the student.

However, recently the corporation wanted the student to start paying back for the loan since it was already six months after graduation.

"This is truly disappointing. My father now has to dip into his savings to pay not only for my master’s degree, but also for the loan. Surely the corporation can give in to my request considering the fact that my master’s programme is only for a year. It is also disregarding its own guidelines by expecting me to pay even before I am gainfully employed" said the student.

The corporation’s website regarding the eligibility to apply for deferment of PTPTN education loan repayment states that: “Only borrowers who have completed their studies and are still unemployed (without an income) or who are continuing their studies on a full-time basis can apply for deferment.”

English for South Sudan schools

A recently independent country South Sudan, will use English as its the medium of instruction for all subjects at its schools.

The new nation, which broke away from its northern neighbour, passed the Higher and General Education Bill recently which means all subjects from primary level will be taught in English.

“We will soon be teaching English for subjects like Mathematics and Science and Arabic and the same goes for all other subjects. Arabic will be taught only as a language subject,” said Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin.

After decades of civil war and neglect, only 16% of South Sudanese are literate, and very few of them are women. The government hopes the move will unify the new nation, which is thought to have over 60 indigenous languages. It is also to bring it into line with the education systems of most of its neigbouring countries.

“This will also make it easy for the syllabuses within South Sudan to fall within the context of East African syllabuses and universities”, Benjamin said. English was also made the official language in a new constitution last month, Benjamin said.

South Sudan has around 18,000 teachers, many of them from Kenya and Uganda. The government plans to train 7,000 teachers to use English as the language of instruction and build 11 national secondary schools covering all 10 of the country’s states.

The new act makes primary education free and compulsory for all in a country lacking basic infrastructure, where only 10% of children complete primary school. About 64% of its school-going population have never been to school.

KBU Convocation Ceremony

 At the convocation ceremony for 183 students of KBU International College and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), the United Kingdom (UK) received their degrees and diplomas recently.

KBU Board of Governors chairman Tan Sri Dr Teo Soo Cheng, the institution’s chief executive Prof Datuk Dr Teo Chiang Liang and principal Dr See Hoon Peow attended the event. ARU was represented by Lord Ashcroft International Business School dean Dr Trevor Bolton.

Nine graduates were awarded the first class honours degrees in Marketing, Accounting and Finance and Business Management from ARU; namely Kim Sun Mi, Shaun Goh Ka Wai, Chan Yee Leep, Jaclyn Ting Zhen- Yi, Pek Ping Kit, Poon Sie Wan, Samuel Lee Hao Suan, Tan Mei Ian and Azadeh Mehran.

Meanwhile, four diploma students received “Student of the Year” awards for their outstanding academic achievements; namely Ryan Chok Kai Wen, Soh Sook May, Chu Weng Fatt and Ng Sui Siang.

In his speech, Prof Chiang Liang expressed his appreciation to ARU for being a partner institution and strengthening KBU’s position as a provider of 3 + 0 UK degree programmes in Malaysia.

Shaun, who received a first-class honours degree in Marketing, said the institution provided a conducive environment to train students to be industry-ready.