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May 22, 2020
Pandemic Will Cost U.S. International Education more than $4.5 Billion, and Tens of Thousands of American Jobs — Says Association of International Educators NAFSA.
WASHINGTON, May 21, 2020 — The Association of International Educators NAFSA says it surveyed senior leadership at U.S.-based higher education institutions and international education organizations to gauge the financial impact of COVID-19 on the field of international education.
According to NAFSA, survey results indicate that, overall, U.S. higher education had potentially lost nearly $1 billion due to shortened or canceled study abroad programs. Further, it spent approximately $638 million in financial support for international students, scholars, faculty, and staff who remained on campus when courses moved online.
Responses estimate that U.S. higher education will lose at least $3 billion due to anticipated international student enrollment declines for fall 2020. NAFSA survey has concluded that without congressional action and financial relief to support global culture, there would be a loss of more than $4.5 billion to U.S. higher education and tens of thousands of American jobs.
“With travel restrictions, visa delays, and economic instability worldwide, COVID-19 has been incredibly harmful to the field of international education,” said Esther D. Brimmer, Executive Director and CEO of the Association of International Educators NAFSA. “We need Congress to support legislation protecting international education to save American jobs and ensure U.S. students remain globally competitive at a time where we cannot afford to lose our competitive edge.”
Detailed Survey Results:
• Study Abroad
94% of institutions with study abroad programs reported shortened or canceled spring and summer programs, resulting in losses of $115 million; when estimated across all of U.S. higher education, potential losses total nearly $1 billion.
65% responded that the cancellation of study abroad programs had impacted staff positions in education abroad offices. Impacts include reduced hours, furloughs, eliminated jobs, hiring freezes, and salary reductions.
61% expressed uncertainty if study abroad programs will be offered for fall 2020, while 15% anticipated cancelations.
• International Students
38% indicated ongoing support for international students who remained on campus, spending nearly $42 million; when extrapolated across all of U.S. higher education, potential spending totals $418.5 million. Types of support include housing, scholarships, food, rent, airfare, and tuition refunds.
60% reported up to 5 staff positions funded by international student fees.
78% anticipate enrollment declines for fall 2020, with a loss of $192 million in revenue; estimated across all of U.S. higher education, potential revenue losses total at least $3 billion.
• International Scholars, Faculty, Staff
55% host or employ international scholars, faculty, and staff, with 77% indicating ongoing support/employment during the crisis.
36% reported providing additional financial support totaling nearly $6 million; estimated across all of U.S. higher education, expenditures approximate $219 million.
51% responded that staff positions in international student/scholar offices would not be impacted by COVID-19, while 24% indicated it was too soon to know, and 21% said it would affect jobs.
Impacts include reduced hours, furloughs, eliminated positions, hiring freezes, and salary reductions.
• Other Negative Financial Impacts
- 41% reported additional negative financial impacts, such as loss of grants and contracts, enrollment declines due to the shift to online instruction, and compensation paid for canceled programs.
NAFSA said it had prepared several requests to the Congress to mitigate the pandemic’s damage on the international education field and to position its recovery when it is safe for American students to study abroad and for international students and scholars to return to the U.S. These requests include petitions for policy changes, such as waiving the in-person interview requirement for visas, and direct financial assistance totaling $46.6 billion.
The Association of International Educators NAFSA is the world’s largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education.
Source: NAFSA
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 7:26 AM | Link to this Post
