A research conducted by the American Council on Education found that domestic students in the US believe that international students take seats from them. However, the voters recognise the positive impact that international students have on domestic students including diplomatic and intellectual benefits.
The survey based on around 1,000 US voters found that not many support the growth of international students in the country. The 2021 findings also noted an 8% increase from 2017, in the number of students to 68% who agreed that US college students benefited from close and regular contact with international students.
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While the current sentiment suggests that international students should be encouraged to pursue higher education in the US, 49% of those surveyed were of the opinion that the country should put more effort into increasing the number of international students in the US.
On the other hand, 55% of the respondents believed that the country should encourage more students from foreign countries to study in the US, which would strengthen the US economy and contribute to its international competitiveness. The ratio saw an increase of 1% from 50% in 2017 to 51% in 2019.
Overall, the report noted the complex and nuanced public opinion oninternational students in the US and their contributions, positive impact on US innovation and the requirement to revisit current policies and practices with regard to the same.
Around 61% suggested that international students in the US should be allowed to stay and work in the US after graduation but only through proper legal channels.
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The ACE said that the Covid-19 pandemic did not diminish the overall favourability of international students.
A majority of international students in the US (53%) indicated that they would favour if moreinternational students were encouraged to study on campus once the situation returns to normalcy, provided they produce a negative Covid-19 report.
However, a third of the respondents were of the view that international students posed a security threat if vetted improperly. Nonetheless, 51% of the respondentssaid they were confident that the state department does a good job at vetting.
