How to deliver value for international students

International higher education is at a crossroads. The student flows that have long surged to universities in the Big Four destinations of the UK, the US, Canada and Australia are softening, with appeal of host countries in Asia and Europe rising. In parallel, transnational education, in which students stay in their own countries but pursue courses and degrees from overseas institutions, continues to gain prominence. And countries such as India, Sri Lanka and Greece are opening up to international branch campuses.

Students, meanwhile, are seeking degrees that will justify their investment of money, time and travel. They, like their domestic counterparts, want employment pathways, prestige, opportunities for collaboration in research or business, global perspectives and a rewarding education experience.

This means institutions face intensifying competition for a share of the 7 million students who are seeking education in another country – a figure predicted to rise to 10 million by the end of the decade. It’s a highly valuable cohort – in the UK alone, higher education exports were worth more than £21 billion in 2021. They must also navigate volatile policy environments (including enrolment caps), cost-of-living pressures and technology that is reshaping the workplace into which students will graduate. So, what can institutions do to retain or boost their appeal to students overseas?

This collection gathers advice from experts around the globe on creating welcoming learning environments, meaningful employment opportunities, tailored communication, digital innovation and effective transnational education systems. Building the high-quality education experience that international students now expect is a whole-system approach that, as Jennifer Clevenger of Virginia Tech writes, spans student support and career scaffolding in a sustained relationship. 

Embedding employability into the international student experience

Career pathways, networks and workplace skills are priorities for international students when they are choosing where to study. And a strong track record of graduate employability can lift an institution above the pack. Universities must take a global view of career advice and support, to prepare students for diverse job markets and contexts. Here, experts offer ways to embed career success.

How universities can support employability for international students: If you work in higher education, you are part of the employability journey, writes Gemma Kenyon from City St George’s, University of London. And career readiness is a key driver for international enrolments.

Empowering international students for global career success: Supporting foreign students to prosper and thrive is not only beneficial to them but also to the broader community, write Alex Fenton and Trevor Omoruyi from the University of Chester. 

Campus webinar: the secrets of international student success: Academics from Campus+ partner institutions in the UK and France discuss how universities can ensure international students fulfil their potential throughout and after their studies.

Start early, before students even arrive on campus

The international student journey starts long before new arrivals walk through the university gates. Digital outreach and early mentoring prepare students and build belonging so they begin with a sense of community already sown. Find out more below.   

Using early engagement to build belonging for international students: Connecting with international students well before they arrive on campus – and maintaining contact across joint and transnational programmes – helps universities to transform anxious newcomers into confident global citizens, writes Jennifer Clevenger of Virginia Tech. 

Using technology to support international students: From scalable email systems to database management, universities can leverage specialised technology to support students’ academic success and career readiness, writes Kate Kirk from Georgia Institute of Technology. 

How to welcome international students

International students are not a homogeneous group, so welcome activities should be tailored to meet their diverse needs. Social media and peer-to-peer support can link students from different countries and cultures to the wider university, while basic practicalities such as clear signage can ease their first weeks on campus. Read on for tips to help administrators, faculty and leaders provide students with a smooth transition.   

Tips to help international students feel at home from day one: Tim Hewes-Belton of Loughborough University offers advice on designing bespoke welcome activities for international students to help them settle into UK university life.

Peer mentoring to ease culture shock for international students: Upper-year student mentors can help freshmen mentees settle into a new environment and navigate the workload throughout their medical studies, explain Eden Friedman and Adrienne Stauder from Semmelweis University.  

Four key hurdles international students face – and what to do about them: How can UK universities alleviate the social, academic and language challenges that international students face when they arrive on campus? Katherine Mansfield of the University of Westminster suggests ways. 

Helping international students in their transition to US institutions: International students add value to American campuses. Ashlee Toomey-Flinn of Georgia Tech offers practical tips for ensuring a successful transition into their US university experience.

How to ensure international students’ well-being and sense of belonging

For all its benefits, studying abroad comes with challenges, such as social isolation, that affect students’ well-being, mental health and performance. Even unfamiliar weather can contribute to homesickness. Institutions can tap into peer support, the local community, events and foreign embassies to help students settle into their new environment.

Tips to support international students’ mental health: Studying abroad may seem exciting, but many students can suffer from social isolation. Sarvenaz Safavi from Near East University explains ways to offer support.

Make your university a home away from home: International students need a strong support system to settle them into their new environment. Find out how to provide one from Aray Saniyazova of Nazarbayev University.

How can higher education better support international students with disabilities? Institutions need to put in place more obvious and intentional communication to meet international students with disabilities’ needs and challenges, write UK and US experts.

Study support for international students 

Language barriers can hinder academic success, with implications for learning efficacy and retention. Strategies such as translanguaging expand the space for multicultural exchange in the classroom, while informal groups and one-to-one support build confidence, as these articles explain.

International students don’t need ‘fixing’: To internationalise education, and not just enrolments, educators need to move feedback on academic language from correction to collaboration, writes Nashid Nigar from the University of Melbourne.

The power of a 30-minute meeting: Here, R. Katherine Samford and Kendall Nelson from Georgia Institute of Technology outline how one-to-one coaching sessions are an ideal forum to build learner self-efficacy and confidence. 

How I use AI tools to enhance EFL students’ speaking skills: AI tools can offer structured practice opportunities, personalised feedback and support with idea generation. Ka Ho To from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University explains how.

Turning a student-led initiative into a language-learning community: Informal language learning can develop into a sustainable programme that encourages cultural exchange and strengthens student community, writes Viktória Sirokmány from Semmelweis University.

Building rapport and participation in class or online

Sharing and hearing myriad perspectives and experiences can enrich students’ learning and prepare them for a global world. However, what is considered engaged participation in one cultural context might be seen as disrespect in another. Find out how clear expectations and co-created storytelling ensure the international classroom is a safe space for learning and personal growth. 

Cultural awareness in the multicultural classroom: What happens when you mix contrasting worldviews in one university classroom? Marie N. Bernal from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology looks at how to balance students’ biases and your own.

Create an online learning environment international students feel comfortable in: Online learning can amplify dislocation and isolation for international students. Rajeev Kamineni from Adelaide University offers advice based on his own learning journey.

Just call me Alex! Why dropping the ‘professor’ could boost students’ confidence: When students can address teachers by their first name, it calms nerves and encourages quieter voices to join the conversation, write academics from the University of Edinburgh.

Build rapport to encourage Chinese students to speak up: Faced with shyness and culture shock, how can English for academic purposes teachers on international branch campuses help students gain confidence in speaking English? Ritchie Bowen from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University shares advice.

Use design thinking and storytelling to help international students find their voices: Here, academics from the University of Warwick share activities, based on co-creation and empathy, that encourage students to express themselves and relate to others. 

Leveraging technology for transnational education

Digital technology has expanded the possibilities for higher education to cross borders, but also highlighted the impact of poor connectivity, uneven access to resources, and digital skills gaps among staff and students. These articles offer advice for ensuring the teaching and student support online or on branch campuses is as high quality as those offered on the host campus.

Digital assumptions versus global realities in transnational education: Connectivity and access remain key challenges as universities in the Global North extend provision beyond their borders. Tabetha Newman and Elizabeth Newall from Jisc look at considerations and solutions. 

How to navigate the digital challenges of transnational education: Universities must tackle the digital barriers facing global learners, argues Patrice Seuwou from the University of Northampton. He offers five practical strategies to deliver equitable provision worldwide.

Expanding international education into new markets

The flow of international students across the globe is sensitive to immigration policy, economic trends, conflict and technological innovation, so institutions need to adapt to emerging and maturing territories. These articles look at considerations for expanding international education provision in China and Africa.

Transnational education in China – challenges and keys to success: When entering the Chinese market, student motivation, the right staff and collaborative partnerships are key considerations, as Zhen Zhang of the University of La Verne explains.

A sustainable strategy for educating the next generation of African youth: What if universities met students from African countries with a sustainable, positive vision for their communities and the host institutions? Melissa Aberle-Grasse from Georgia Institute of Technology shares practical strategies and resources.

Thank you to all Campus contributors who shared their expertise in this guide.