A new analysis by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) has revealed that international students in the United States are a great source of talent for employers and they also help US universities offer quality education in the field of Science and Engineering.
According to 2019 data revealed by NFAP, the number of American students enrolled in Electrical Engineering at US universities was 9,038, which is very less as compared to 26,343 international students who were enrolled in the same course. Similarly, 44,786 international students got enrolled in Computer and Information Sciences courses and American student enrollment was only 17,334.
Professors from various US universities also realise the importance of international students enrolled in advanced courses. Stuart Cooper, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Ohio State University stated that the university and professors require a significant number of graduate students to perform research and domestic students alone in the US are in fewer numbers in certain fields.
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A number of other conclusions are drawn from the NFAP study. The highlights of the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) Report is as follows:
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Courses that have maximum international students enrollment in the US is as follows:
|
Courses |
% of International Students Enrollment |
|
Petroleum Engineering |
82% |
|
Electrical Engineering |
74% |
|
Computer & Information Sciences |
72% |
|
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering |
71% |
|
Civil Engineering |
61% |
|
Material Sciences |
52% |
|
Mechanical Engineering and Agricultural Economics |
58% |
|
Pharmaceutical Sciences |
50% |
|
Statistics |
70% |
|
Economics |
67% |
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The majority of graduate students at US universities enrolled are international students. For example, in a full-time graduate Electrical Engineering course, the international students enrollment is 78% with at least 30 students.
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In the past two decades, foreign-born engineers and scientists have contributed significantly to the US by filling the demand for high-level technical talent in the country. Postdocs who complete their doctorate assist in critical research at US universities. 55 of Postdocs work on a temporary work visa in the US
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The annual number of full-time international graduates enrolled in Computer and Information Science courses at US universities has increased by 310% from 1998 to 2019. On the other hand, this percentage is only 91% in the case of full-time US graduate students.
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The number of full-time international graduates enrolled in Electrical Engineering at US universities has increased by 130% from 1998 to 2019. This percentage is only 12% in the case of full-time US graduate students.
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Full-time international students enrollment in Electrical Engineering courses has dropped by 19.5% between 2015 to 2019. Full-time international students enrollment in Computer and Information Science courses has dropped by 9.5% between 2016 to 2019.
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The NFAPreport also states that a welcoming policy on international students in the US is important to the role of the US in innovative technology. This can be done through effective measures like improving visa policy for international students in the US, and easier work policy for graduates in the US, preserving STEM Optional Practical Training, improving H1B Visa policy and employment-based green card.
Source: The Times of India
