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Miami Herald
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
High school students find common ground on the debate stage
This story about high school speech and debate was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter. DES MOINES, Iowa - Macon Smith stood in front of a nearly empty classroom 1,000 miles from home. He asked his opponent and the two judges in the room if they were ready to start, then he set a six-minute timer and took a deep breath. "When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty," he began. In front of Macon, a 17-year-old high school junior, was a daunting task: to outline and defend the argument that violent revolution is a just response to political oppression. In a few hours, Macon would stand in another classroom with new judges and a different opponent. He would break apart his entire argument and undo everything he had just said. "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind," Macon started. It doesn't really matter what opinion Macon holds on violence or political oppression. In this moment in front of the judges, he believes what he's saying. His job is to get the judges to believe with him. Related: A lot goes on in classrooms from kindergarten to high school. Keep up with our free weekly newsletter on K-12 education. Macon was one of more than 7,000 middle and high school students to compete in the National Speech and Debate Tournament this summer in Iowa, run by an organization that is celebrating a century in that time, the National Speech and Debate Association has persevered through economic and social upheaval. It is entering its next era, one in which the very notion of engaging in informed and respectful debate seems impossible. The organizers of this event see the activity as even more important in a fracturing society. "I don't think there's an activity in the world that develops empathy and listening skills like speech and debate," said Scott Wunn, the organization's president. "We're continuing to create better citizens." Though the tournament is held in different cities around the country, for the 100th anniversary, the organizers chose to host it in Des Moines, where the association's headquarters is for this competition was a year in the making for Macon, who will be a senior at Bob Jones Academy, a Christian school in Greenville, South Carolina, this fall. Students here compete in more than two dozen categories, such as Original Oratory, in which they write and recite their own 10-minute speeches, or Big Questions, where they attempt to argue broad, philosophical ideas. Macon's specialty, the Lincoln-Douglas Debate, is modeled after a series of public, three-hour debates between Abraham Lincoln and Sen. Stephen Douglas in 1858. In this event, two students have just 40 minutes to set up their arguments, cross-examine each other and sway the judges. "Even if I don't personally believe it, I can still look at the facts and determine, OK, this is a good fact, or it's true, and argue for that side," Macon said. Debaters often have to tackle topics that are difficult, controversial and timely: Students in 1927 debated whether there was a need for a federal Department of Education. In 1987, they argued about mandatory AIDS testing. In 2004, they debated whether the United States was losing the war on terror. This year, in the Public Forum division, students debated whether the benefits of presidential executive orders outweigh the harms. Related: Teaching social studies in a polarized world While the speech and debate students practiced for their national event, adults running the country screamed over each other during a congressional hearing on state sanctuary policies. A senator was thrown to the floor and handcuffed during a press conference on sending the National Guard to immigration enforcement protests in Los Angeles. Most Americans feel political discourse is moving in the wrong direction - both conservatives and progressives say talking politics with someone they disagree with has become increasingly stressful and frustrating. Speech and debate club, though, is different. "First of all, it gives a kid a place to speak out and have a voice," said Gail Nicholas, who for 40 years has coached speech and debate at Bob Jones Academy alongside her husband, Chuck Nicholas, who is Macon's coach. "But then also learn to talk to other people civilly, and I think that's not what's being modeled out there in the real world right now." On the second day of the competition in a school cafeteria in West Des Moines, Macon was anxiously refreshing the webpage that would show the results of his rounds to learn whether he would advance to semifinals. For most of the school year, Macon spent two days a week practicing after school, researching and writing out his arguments. Like many competitors, he has found that it's easy to make snap judgments when you don't know much about an issue. Decisively defending that view, to yourself and to others, is much harder. "I tend to go in with an opinion and lose my opinion as the topic goes on," said Daphne DiFrancesco, a rising senior from Cary Academy in Cary, North Carolina. Traveling for regional events throughout the school year means Macon has become friends with students who don't always share his conservative views. He knows this because in debate, discussing politics and religion is almost unavoidable. "It doesn't make me uncomfortable at all," Macon said. "You don't want to burn down a bridge before you make it with other people. If you stop your connection with a person right at their political beliefs, you're already cutting off half of the country. That's not a good way to conduct yourself." Macon, and other students in the clubs, said participating has made them think more deeply about their own beliefs. Last year, Macon debated a bill that would defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an agency he supports. After listening to other students, he developed a more nuanced view of the organization. "When you look at the principle of enforcing illegal immigration, that can still be upheld, but the agency that does so itself is flawed," he said. Related: 'I can tell you don't agree with me':' Colleges teach kids how to hear differing opinions Henry Dieringer, a senior from L.C. Anderson High School in Austin, Texas, went into one competition thinking he would argue in favor of a bill that would provide work permits for immigrants, which he agrees with. Further research led him to oppose the idea of creating a federal database on immigrants."It made me think more about the way that public policy is so much more nuanced than what we believe," Henry said. On the afternoon of the second day of the national tournament, Macon learned he didn't advance to the next round. What's sad, he said, is he probably won't have to think this hard about the justness of violent revolution ever again. "There's always next year," Macon said. Callista Martin, 16, a rising senior from Bainbridge High School in Washington state, also didn't make the semifinals. Callista and Macon met online this year through speech and debate so they could scrimmage with someone they hadn't practiced with before. It gave them the chance to debate someone with differing political views and argument styles. "In the rounds, I'm an entirely different person. I'm pretty aggressive, my voice turns kind of mean," Callista said. "But outside of the rounds, I always make sure to say hi to them before and after and say things I liked about their case, ask them about their school." Talking to her peers outside of rounds is perhaps the most important part of being in the club, Callista said. This summer, she will travel to meet with some of her closest friends, people she met at debate camps and tournaments in Washington. Since Callista fell in love with speech and debate as a freshman, she has devoted herself to keeping it alive at her school. No teacher has volunteered to be a coach for the debate club, so the 16-year-old is coaching both her classmates and herself. A lack of coaches is a common problem. Just under 3,800 public and private high schools and middle schools were members of the National Speech and Debate Association at the end of this past school year, just a fraction of the tens of thousands of secondary schools in the country. The organization would like to double its membership in the next five would mean recruiting more teachers to lead clubs, but neither educators nor schools are lining up to take on the responsibility, said David Yastremski, an English teacher at Ridge High School in New Jersey who has coached teams for about 30 years. It's a major time commitment for teachers to dedicate their evenings and weekends to the events with little supplemental pay or recognition. Also, it may seem like a risk to some teachers at a time when states such as Virginia and Louisiana have banned teachers from talking about what some call "divisive concepts," to oversee a school activity where engaging with controversial topics is the point. "I primarily teach and coach in a space where kids can still have those conversations," Yastremski said. "I fear that in other parts of the country, that's not the case." Related: A school district singled out by Trump says it teaches 'whole truth history' Dennis Philbert, a coach from Central High School in Newark, New Jersey, who had two students become finalists in the tournament's Dramatic Interpretation category, said he fears for his profession because of the scrutiny educators are under. It takes the fun out of teaching, he said, but this club can reignite that passion. "All of my assistant coaches are former members of my team," Philbert said. "They love this activity [so much] that they came back to help younger students … to show that this is an activity that is needed." On the other side of Des Moines, Gagnado Diedhiou was competing in the Congressional Debate, a division of the tournament that mimics Congress and requires students to argue for or against bills modeled after current events. During one round, Gagnado spoke in favor of a bill to shift the country to use more nuclear energy, for a bill that would grant Puerto Rico statehood, and against legislation requiring hospitals to publicly post prices. Just like in Congress, boys outnumbered girls in this classroom. Gagnado was the only Black teenager and the only student wearing a hijab. The senior, who just graduated from Eastside High School in Greenville, South Carolina, is accustomed to being in rooms where nobody looks like her - it's part of the reason she joined Equality in Forensics, a national student-led debate organization that provides free resources to schools and students across the country. "It kind of makes you have to walk on eggshells a little bit. Especially because when you're the only person in that room who looks like you, it makes you a lot more obvious to the judges," said Gagnado, who won regional Student of the Year for speech and debate in her South Carolina district this year. "You stand out, and not always in a good way." Camille Fernandez, a rising junior at West Broward High School in Florida, said the competitions she has participated in have been dominated by male students. One opponent called her a vulgar and sexist slur after their round was over. Camille is a member of a student-led group - called Outreach Debate - trying to bridge inequities in the clubs. "A lot of people think that debate should stay the same way that it's always been, where it's kind of just - and this is my personal bias - a lot of white men winning," Camille said. "A lot of people think that should be changed, me included." Despite the challenges, Gagnado said her time in debate club has made her realize she could have an influence in the world. "With my three-minute speech, I can convince a whole chamber, I can convince a judge to vote for this bill. I can advocate and make a difference with some legislation," said Gagnado, who is bound for Yale. A day before the national tournament's concluding ceremony, a 22-year-old attendee rushed the stage at the Iowa Event Center in Des Moines during the final round of the Humorous Interpretation speech competition, scaring everyone in the audience. After he bent down to open his backpack, 3,000 people in the auditorium fled for the exits. The man was later charged with possession of a controlled substance and disorderly conduct. For a brief moment, it seemed like the angry discourse and extreme politics from outside of the competition had become a part of it. In response, the speech and debate organization shifted the time of some events, limited entrances into the building and brought in metal detectors, police officers and counselors. Some students, Gagnado among them, chose not to return to the event. Still, thousands of attendees stayed until the end to celebrate the national champions. During the awards ceremony, where therapy dogs roamed the grounds, Angad Singh, a student from Bellarmine College Preparatory in California competing in Original Oratory, took the national prize for his speech on his Sikh identity and the phrase "thoughts and prayers" commonly repeated by American leaders after a tragedy, titled "Living on a Prayer." "I've prayed for change," Singh told the audience. "Then I joined speech and debate to use my voice and fight for it." This story about high school speech and debate was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter. The post High school students find common ground on the debate stage appeared first on The Hechinger Report.
Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
International students are critical to US colleges. See which schools could be hit hardest by a ban
As the Trump administration announces sweeping changes to make it more difficult for colleges and universities to welcome international students, some schools are more vulnerable than others to the drops in enrollment that could result. About 1 million international students with visas were enrolled in U.S. institutions as of fall 2023, according to The Hechinger Report's analysis of U.S. Department of Education data. These students typically pay the full cost of attendance, helping to boost colleges' budgets and subsidize tuition for American students. Many schools enroll thousands of foreign students, and some smaller colleges rely on them to fill their seats. Related: Interested in more news about colleges and universities? Subscribe to our free biweekly higher education newsletter. This spring, the Trump administration revoked the visas of over 1,600 international students and canceled the legal status of more than 4,700 international students - some because of their involvement in pro-Palestinian campus protests. Following court orders temporarily restoring the legal status of students who had filed suit claiming the move was illegal, federal officials said they would restore the legal status of hundreds of those students, but the administration has said it's working on a new policy for stripping students' legal status that would affect universities nationwide. Meanwhile, the State Department has announced a new comprehensive vetting process of international students' social media profiles and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration will "aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students." A federal judge has blocked, for now, the Trump administration's complete ban on international students at Harvard University. Read more of our coverage of international students or search the table below to see what share of such students each college enrolls. Some key findings from the Hechinger Report's analysis of U.S. Department of Education data on international students: States with the highest per capita enrollment of international students are Massachusetts, New York, Indiana, Delaware, Connecticut, Missouri and Illinois. International students with visas made up 10 percent of students enrolled at private not-for-profit four-year universities - compared with 6 percent at public universities and 2 percent at for-profit institutions. Even so, public institutions - including community colleges - still enroll higher total numbers of international students, with roughly 600,000 nonresident students. That's compared with more than 400,000 at private not-for-profit colleges and universities. Colleges and universities with the highest percentage of international students include small business schools, art schools, religious institutions and science and technology universities. Note: This analysis relies on data about student enrollment collected annually from 6,000 colleges, universities and technical and vocational institutions by the Department of Education through the National Center for Education Statistics' Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. IPEDS' enrollment data defines a nonresident student as "a person who is not a citizen or national of the United States and who is in this country on a visa or temporary basis and does not have the right to remain indefinitely." Contact investigative reporter Marina Villeneuve at 212-678-3430 or villeneuve@ or on Signal at mvilleneuve.78 This story about international students was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter. The post International students are critical to US colleges. See which schools could be hit hardest by a ban appeared first on The Hechinger Report.
Miami Herald
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
After outcry from tribes, federal agency scales back tribal school choice plan
Days after taking office, President Donald Trump stunned tribal nations when he signed an executive order mandating the expansion of school choice to Indian Country by this fall. The president's Jan. 29 order led to an outcry from tribal members, including parents and educators, who feared the proposal would harm tribal schools that in many cases offer the only educational option for families living on remote reservations. They also warned - in public hearings and formal legislative action - that Trump's order threatened to undermine U.S. treaties with sovereign Indian nations and their rights to self-determination in education. "They put our kids in boarding schools to 'kill the Indian,'" said Michelle Beaudin, a member of the governing board for the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe, referring to the federal government's century-long Indian boarding school program to forcibly assimilate Native American youth. The tribe runs an Ojibwe language immersion school in rural northwest Wisconsin that Beaudin says has helped restore tribal identity and culture.* She worried any diversion of funds because of Trump's order would harm that effort. "We're working hard to get that language and tradition back again," she said. "This is one more assault to take it away." Yet in late May, the agency that oversees schools on tribal lands, the Bureau of Indian Education, released preliminary details of a plan in response to Trump's order that appears to bring much more modest changes than many anticipated. Citing the bureau's history of poor academic outcomes and financial mismanagement, conservatives have long wanted to turn the BIE into a school voucher-style program. The proposal, though, looks nothing like that. Instead of offering to pay for students to attend competing private, religious or charter schools, the BIE plans to give campuses the flexibility to offer additional services - like tutoring and after-school programs - that families can then pick for their kids. In an email to The Hechinger Report/ICT, the BIE said it 'structured the plan to ensure tribes retain a leading role in determining how educational choices are expanded for their students.' Related: A lot goes on in classrooms from kindergarten to high school. Keep up with our free weekly newsletter on K-12 education. The BIE enrolls nearly 44,000 students at 183 schools that it directly runs or oversees on reservations in nearly two dozen states. About 8 percent of Native American students attend BIE schools; the vast majority attend traditional public schools. In his order, Trump set an April deadline for the bureau to come up with a plan for families to use federal funds at non-BIE schools - with it scheduled to go into effect this fall. Sweeping government layoffs and budget cuts, meanwhile, decimated the BIE's rank-and-file staff. The bureau didn't hold virtual forums to discuss the executive order until mid-March, when nearly 800 parents, tribal leaders, agency educators and Native education advocates weighed in, many of them critical of the order. Related: How a tribe won a legal battle against the Bureau of Indian Education - and still lost Yet in a letter to tribal leaders in late May, the BIE notified them of a plan that would offer a limited amount of choice for families, while potentially increasing funding for schools like Beaudin's that are directly managed by tribes. The letter included just one line on its school choice plan: The bureau proposed it would set aside up to $1.3 million that schools could spend on additional services for families to choose for their children. Those could include advanced or college courses, tutoring and after-school activities, according to the May 23 letter. It also mentions gathering more feedback before the next school year on new and strengthened college and career pathways for students. "These options will allow parents to exercise a meaningful choice in their child's education," the BIE letter reads. In March, the Department of Education had encouraged state leaders to take advantage of similar flexibility with federal funds under existing law. The White House did not respond to requests for comment on the plan. But a BIE spokeswoman said the bureau worked closely with the Trump administration "to ensure the plan is consistent with executive order priorities and federal responsibilities." The bureau, she added, attempted to craft a proposal that would offer "practical and impactful" services in remote and rural settings where many of its schools enroll kids and private options for education are scant. In its letter, the bureau also said it would work to secure more funding for tribal schools by asking lawmakers to restore grants for tribes that directly manage their BIE-funded campuses. Federal law allows tribes to directly manage all budget, curriculum and hiring decisions at BIE schools. Some 130 campuses operate today under that arrangement. The bureau said it will request that lawmakers boost funding that helps tribes with those costly conversions to local management. The letter suggests the funding must arrive before fall, when the school choice plan would go into effect. Related: Investigating the Bureau of Indian Education - and Trump's efforts to turn it into a school choice program Trump's proposed budget, released after the BIE sent its letter to tribal leaders, included no increase in funding for tribal education. The bureau actually stands to lose about $80 million, or roughly 10 percent, of its total budget for elementary and secondary programs - though lawmakers have indicated they will fund the BIE's parent agency, the Department of Interior, above the level in the president's "skinny budget" request. "BIE proposes to carry out these initiatives within its allocated budget, to the extent possible," the bureau's spokeswoman said in an email. Meanwhile, the BIE's more modest proposal is already disappointing some of its loudest critics, including those at the conservative Heritage Foundation. In Project 2025, a transition plan for the new president released last year, the think tank called for offering BIE families a voucher-style program of school choice like the one states including Arizona and Florida have made available to all children. Jonathan Butcher, acting director of Heritage's Center for Education Policy, said the bureau's proposal falls short of the president's order. "This is an opportunity to give students the chance to find something they cannot get now at their assigned school. Expecting that assigned public school to provide this kind of opportunity, I'm afraid, is unlikely," Butcher said. "The BIE's students have not had a lot of great options for a long time," he added. "We should be figuring out how to do everything we can for them." At the bureau's consultation sessions in March, a few tribal members voiced support for school choice, including those who run schools in communities that do offer education alternatives to the BIE. Rodney Bordeaux, former president of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, now runs the St. Francis Mission on the reservation. He said the private Jesuit school, which offers small class sizes and Lakota language classes, could use a boost from federal funds. It currently relies on private donations collected from across the country. "Our students learn the Lakota values - the history and the culture, as well as language," Bordeaux said. "However, our funding is somewhat limited, so we need this extra funding to become a very stable school." He added, "We can prove that our model works." Related: Native Americans turn to charter schools to reclaim their kids' education Before the bureau can implement its plan this fall, it will host a fresh round of virtual consultation sessions in July to gather feedback from tribal members, school boards, parents and teachers. Budget writers in Congress will soon release their proposed spending plan for 2026, revealing how much BIE schools will lose or gain as the plan moves forward. Tribes that already control their schools, however, didn't take it as a good sign that Trump's budget would eliminate all funding for BIE school construction and repairs. Funding shortfalls and mismanagement have contributed to poor conditions in many BIE schools, and inspectors have deemed some of the buildings unhealthy and unsafe. Michael Willis, a partner and lawyer with Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, a Washington, D.C.-based firm that represents small tribes, said his clients remain worried about Trump's order and the financial outlook for tribally controlled schools. "Let's fix what we have. Let's put more investment in infrastructure and what we need to operate successful schools," said Willis. "Unsafe, unsanitary, dangerous conditions just don't pose a good option when parents want their kids to have the best experience possible." Correction: This story has been updated with the correct location of the Ojibwe language immersion school. Contact staff writer Neal Morton at 212-678-8247, on Signal at nealmorton.99, or via email at morton@ This story about school choice was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education, in partnership with ICT. Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter. The post After outcry from tribes, federal agency scales back tribal school choice plan appeared first on The Hechinger Report.
Economic Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Rising costs and visa hurdles push international students beyond the US,UK
Synopsis The United States, once the top choice for international students, faces challenges due to stricter immigration laws and rising costs. Consequently, countries like Japan, South Korea, and India are actively attracting foreign students with relaxed rules and affordable education. This shift indicates a more competitive global education landscape where students prioritize visa policies and career prospects. The United States, long seen as the leading destination for international students, is facing increasing uncertainty. Tightening immigration laws, unpredictable visa rules, and rising tuition costs have made many students reconsider the value of studying there, according to a report by The Times of India. A notable example came when the Trump administration moved to revoke Harvard University's license to host foreign students. Although courts blocked the move, the incident raised concerns about the country's reliability as an academic host. ADVERTISEMENT According to the US State Department, 1.12 million international students in the country contribute over $50 billion to the economy. But funding cuts to universities and tuition fees crossing $100,000 have started to weaken the country's academic appeal. Similar trends are emerging in other English-speaking countries. Global universities step in as US cracks down on foreign students In the UK, the government is reportedly considering reducing the post-study work visa from two years to 18 months. Restrictions introduced in 2024 also prevent most graduate students from bringing dependents, as reported by Times Higher Education. Canada, which once welcomed international students in large numbers, has now placed a two-year limit on new enrolments. ICEF Monitor notes that foreign students previously made up 2.5% of the Canadian population. Australia has also imposed enrolment caps, raised visa fees, and increased oversight, with Reuters attributing these moves to domestic political pressure. While traditional destinations impose new limits, several countries are positioning themselves as alternatives. These include nations that are facing ageing populations and shrinking youth numbers. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Japan, where the population of 18-year-olds has nearly halved in 30 years, aims to host 400,000 international students by 2033, according to The Hechinger Report. South Korea is targeting 300,000 students by 2027, with one in five people already over the age of 65, CNN reports. Singapore has relaxed permanent residency rules for foreign graduates. Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Malaysia are also expanding their reach in the international education has announced plans to attract 500,000 foreign students by 2047. With its growing education system and widespread English instruction, the country is seeking to become a serious destination for international education. ADVERTISEMENT Several European countries are seeing a rise in international enrolments as well. Germany and Spain recently hit record numbers. Though English-language programs remain limited, lower tuition fees are drawing interest. For example, Japan's average annual tuition is about $4, US universities are now opening campuses abroad to bypass immigration hurdles. Other institutions are stepping in to fill gaps. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology recently announced plans to admit students affected by US visa uncertainties. ADVERTISEMENT "The university will provide unconditional offers, streamlined admission procedures, and academic support to facilitate a seamless transition for interested students," the institution stated on its website. These developments suggest a shift toward a more distributed and competitive global education system. While the US, UK, and Australia remain influential, they no longer dominate. With global politics and demographics in flux, students are now choosing based on visa policies, costs, and career prospects as much as academic prestige. ADVERTISEMENT The global education landscape is undergoing change, and new players are emerging with long-term strategies to attract international talent. (With inputs from TOI) (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2024 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online. NEXT STORY
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Rising costs and visa hurdles push international students beyond the US,UK
The United States , long seen as the leading destination for international students , is facing increasing uncertainty. Tightening immigration laws, unpredictable visa rules, and rising tuition costs have made many students reconsider the value of studying there, according to a report by The Times of India. A notable example came when the Trump administration moved to revoke Harvard University 's license to host foreign students. Although courts blocked the move, the incident raised concerns about the country's reliability as an academic host. According to the US State Department, 1.12 million international students in the country contribute over $50 billion to the economy. But funding cuts to universities and tuition fees crossing $100,000 have started to weaken the country's academic appeal. Similar trends are emerging in other English-speaking countries. In the UK , the government is reportedly considering reducing the post-study work visa from two years to 18 months. Restrictions introduced in 2024 also prevent most graduate students from bringing dependents, as reported by Times Higher Education . Canada , which once welcomed international students in large numbers, has now placed a two-year limit on new enrolments. ICEF Monitor notes that foreign students previously made up 2.5% of the Canadian population. Australia has also imposed enrolment caps, raised visa fees, and increased oversight, with Reuters attributing these moves to domestic political pressure. While traditional destinations impose new limits, several countries are positioning themselves as alternatives. These include nations that are facing ageing populations and shrinking youth numbers. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Japan, where the population of 18-year-olds has nearly halved in 30 years, aims to host 400,000 international students by 2033, according to The Hechinger Report. South Korea is targeting 300,000 students by 2027, with one in five people already over the age of 65, CNN reports. Singapore has relaxed permanent residency rules for foreign graduates. Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Malaysia are also expanding their reach in the international education market. Live Events You Might Also Like: Trump administration gives Harvard 30 days to defend foreign student program certification India has announced plans to attract 500,000 foreign students by 2047. With its growing education system and widespread English instruction, the country is seeking to become a serious destination for international education. Several European countries are seeing a rise in international enrolments as well. Germany and Spain recently hit record numbers. Though English-language programs remain limited, lower tuition fees are drawing interest. For example, Japan's average annual tuition is about $4,000. Some US universities are now opening campuses abroad to bypass immigration hurdles. Other institutions are stepping in to fill gaps. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology recently announced plans to admit students affected by US visa uncertainties. "The university will provide unconditional offers, streamlined admission procedures, and academic support to facilitate a seamless transition for interested students," the institution stated on its website. You Might Also Like: Global universities step in as US cracks down on foreign students These developments suggest a shift toward a more distributed and competitive global education system . While the US, UK, and Australia remain influential, they no longer dominate. With global politics and demographics in flux, students are now choosing based on visa policies , costs, and career prospects as much as academic prestige. The global education landscape is undergoing change, and new players are emerging with long-term strategies to attract international talent.
