“Change the discourse” on value of international students in US, DHS told
Published 06/12/2023
The newly launched US for Success Coalition has hit the ground running, providing the Department of Homeland Security with a set of recommendations to make the US a more welcoming destination for international students.
In November 2023, a group of education organisations, think tanks and advocates launched the coalition focused on international student success in the US, with the aim of working with government, businesses and institutions to achieve this goal.
According to Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA, the committee has already met with federal agencies to discuss the priorities of the coalition.
Now, further work of the coalition is underway, starting with the outlined solutions which, according to Aw, are focused on pressing issues such as “lengthy and unpredictable processing times, duplicative and burdensome paperwork, and lack of inter- and intra-agency coordination”.
According to the coalition, the US requires an immigration process that recognises international students’ key role in US national security and innovation, while reflecting the country’s values as a welcoming and inclusive nation.
“Higher education institutions and international students deserve confidence that policies within and among agencies will align with and be recognised across the federal government,” it continued.
Within the recommendations set out, the committee is urging DHS to “champion the importance of international students by consistently articulating their value” and to meet regularly with the international education community to discuss issues affecting the sector’s ability to compete globally for international student talent.
Stakeholders in the wider sector are enthusiastic about the goals of the newly formed coalition, including Jane E. Gatewood, vice provost for global engagement, University of Rochester, who hopes the coalition’s efforts can help to “change the discourse” about the value of international students.
“Let’s not forget that international students contribute nearly $40 billion annually to the US economy when measured as a trade export,” said Gatewood.
“This figure is on par with the US exports of all agricultural food products, and exceeds the exports of wheat, corn, and soybeans combined. And international students need secure immigration pathways to continue building and contributing to a dynamic US economy post-graduation.”
The coalition wants to encourage the administration to improve both intra- and inter-agency sharing and management of data collected through forms, petitions, and case management systems to enhance agency efficiency and reduce the burden on applicants and petitioners.
The current system requires students to file “duplicative and often burdensome paperwork with various agencies”, said the coalition.
The US for Success coalition is also seeking help from the DHS to endorse and implement the government’s Joint Statement of Principles in Support of International Education, which was announced in 2021 by secretary of state Antony Blinken.
The change-makers are also urging DHS to strengthen and reaffirm Optional Practical Training.
“OPT offers an experiential learning opportunity that serves as a key feature of the US higher education experience”
“OPT offers an experiential learning opportunity that serves as a key feature of the US higher education experience and is attractive to many prospective international students,” the document read.
The 2022/23 academic year saw 198,793 students pursue graduate work experience via OPT, 8% more than the previous year.
This was the first time in three years the number of students on OPT grew, and it seems that the coalition is keen to protect this growth.
In October 2023, the sector breathed a sigh of relief when the Supreme Court decided not to hear a case that threatened the end of OPT for international students.
In its recommendations, the coalition asserted that any changes to the OPT program should “encourage, not deter, prospective international students from choosing the US for their degrees”.
Although the coalition highlighted the positive steps the administration has already taken in this regard – adding 22 new fields of study to the STEM OPT program – it noted the need for an expansion to include health-related fields.
Further recommendations include the continuation of Special Student Relief for students whose home countries are experiencing crises that place the student under financial hardship, requiring them to take on more work opportunities.
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