To better understand how the world’s universities are currently adapting international undergraduate pathways, ISC Research conducted research this summer. 165 higher education institutions from 23 countries participated in the research. A free report is now available, along with a white paper containing reactions from international school college counsellors to the research results.
The report suggests that 41% of universities are expecting an increase in their international undergraduate entry for the 2021-2022 academic year, this despite continuing restrictions to entry for some countries.
Lucien Giordano, Director of International Outreach and Alumni Engagement at Education in Motion which includes Dulwich College International, Dulwich International High School, Dehong Education and Green School said this reflects what his team is seeing across the school group: “I think the true driving factors are Class of 2020 coming back in as a result of COVID and political/social concerns.” In the white paper he highlights interesting trends in final destinations of departing students for the past two years.
The report identifies how universities adapted their admissions processes as a result of cancelled exit examinations. 48% of higher education institutions (HEIs) surveyed said they are allowing entry to new international students this year without traditional grades or scores. Instead they used alternative criteria for their admissions, such as more detailed interviews (73% of HEIs) and more references (41% of HEIs). However, 52% of HEIs said they have not adjusted their admissions criteria.
Brian Marshall, Director of University Counselling at Raha International School in the UAE said he felt this reflected the reality of what his school has seen this year. “Many universities are deeply rooted in history and resistant to change,” he told the white paper.
The report highlights some higher education institutions saying that COVID-19 has provided the catalyst for change that was already necessary. Several cite a recognition of new ways to approach international undergraduate recruitment and admissions.
The research report and white paper are available free to download from the ISC Research website.
An online panel discussion hosted by ISC Research addressing how international schools, universities and partners can work together to support students throughout their pathway decision-making process takes place on September 23rd. Panellists will include EiM’s Group Director of International Outreach, Lucien Giordano who contributed to the white paper, Anne Kuijs, International Recruitment Advisor at Tilburg University as a representative of the Dutch Research University Consortium and Caitlin Brennan, Partner Development Director at InvestIN. More details about the webinar are available here.
