In this research paper and presentation, I examined the literature and historical data regarding international student recruitment and how to effectively implement it at the university.

1. International Student
Recruitment: Purpose,
Strategies, and Ethics
Breanne Vailes
MSW Candidate
Intern in the Center for Intercultural Engagement

2. Definitions
• F-1 Visa Student – citizen of another country who receives a
visa in order to study in the U.S.
• MK or TCK – “Missionary Kid” or “Third Culture Kid” – student
who spent a significant portion of their developmental years
in another country from their parents’ home country
• Other intercultural populations – dual citizens, permanent
residents, students whose parents have work visas,
undocumented residents, asylees, etc.

3. Problem Assessment & Current
Interventions

4. Small International Student Population
• F-1 Students: 1.3% of Union’s student population.
• 1.7% of Union’s undergraduate student population.
• Athletes make up 49% of the international student population.

5. Current Efforts
Center for Intercultural Engagement
• Intensive English Summer Certificate Program– Revenue-generating
program that teaches English to students who can then funnel into
degree-seeking programs
• Promotional materials as well as website translated into Korean and
Chinese
• Grassroots recruiting through faculty or staff who travel internationally
• Recruitment plans submitted with additional strategies

6. Why Recruit Internationals?

7. Sociocultural Value
• Impact of globalization on the workforce
• Academic enhancement
• Cultural education
• Providing education to international students is considered an export in the U.S.
economy.
• Revenue generator - $35 billion - in the U.S.
• Majority of internationals self-fund their education.
• Contribute to workforce growth, esp. in STEM
Economic Value

8. Trends & International Relations
Climate

9. Trends
• For over 20 years, the U.S. has highest number of international
students.
• Top sending country is China, followed by India.
• Over 1 million students studied internationally in 2016.
• In the past, U.S. has been viewed as unsafe and unwelcoming.
• Recent policies, such as the travel ban, have reinforced concepts
of an unwelcome political climate.
• Countries like Canada and Australia have more international-
friendly policies.

10. Ethics
Unhealthy ways of viewing international
students:
1.Cash
2.Charity
3.Competition

11. Historical Analysis

12. 0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
STUDENTSENROLLED
YEAR
UU Enrollment of International Students Each Year
F-1 Student Visa Marked "International Student" on Application
Visa, Alien, & Unknown* Marked "MK" on Application
MK Scholarship Recipient

13. 671,616
690,923
723,277
764,495
819,644
886,052
974,926
1,043,839
1,078,822
0
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017
STUDENTSENROLLEDINU.S.
ACADEMIC YEAR
U.S. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
International Students

14. 0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
ENROLLEDSTUDENTS
YEARS
ENROLLMENT AT UNION UNIVERSITY
Total Enrollment Undergraduate Enrollment

15. Interventions

16. Recommended Steps
1. Develop comprehensive list of “pull factors” for the university
2. Integrate these as branding for marketing tools for the
university
3. Hire an international recruiter
4. Create targeted social media campaign
5. Longer term – develop formal alumni network

17. References
• AACRAO: American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. (2014). AACRAO: Shaping the future of
international education and exchange. Retrieved from http://www4.aacrao.org/files/International_Task_Force_Report-
October_2014-FINAL_DRAFT_v2.pdf
• AACRAO: American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. (2017). Trending topics survey:
International applicants for fall 2017 – institutional & applicant perceptions. Retrieved from
http://www.aacrao.org/docs/default-source/TrendTopic/Immigration/intl-survey-results-released.pdf
• Altbach, P. G. (2004). Higher education crosses borders: Can the United States remain the top destination for foreign
students?. Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, 36(2), 18-25. doi: 10.1080/00091380409604964
• Altbach, P. G. & Knight, J. (2007). The internationalization of higher education: Motivations and realities. Journal of Studies
in International Education, 11(3-4), 290-305. doi: 10.1177/1028315307303542
• Choudaha, R. & Chang, L. (2012). Trends in international student mobility. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rahul_Choudaha/publication/255725099_Trends_in_International_Student_Mobility/li
nks/57c31ffa08aeda1ec391941a.pdf
• Choudaha, R., Chang, L., & Kono, Y. (2014). International student mobility trends 2013: Towards responsive recruitment
strategies. Retrieved from https://www.eurashe.eu/library/modernising-
phe/mobility/data/WG4%20R%20International%20Student%20Mobility%20Trends%202013.pdf

18. References, Ctd.
• Douglass, J. A. & Edelstein, R. (2009). The global competition for talent: The rapidly changing market for international students and the need
for a strategic approach in the US. Center for Studies in Higher Education, 1-22. Retrieved from https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0qw462x1
• Falcone, S. (2017). International student recruitment: Trends and challenges. Journal of International Students, 7(2), 246-256. Retrieved from
http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1129177.pdf
• Gottheil, S. (2017). Growing your international enrollment--panacea or pitfall?. Retrieved from http://www.aacrao.org/resources/resources-
detail-view/growing-your-international-enrollment--panacea-or-pitfall-
• Greenblatt, A. (2017, May 1). Abroad in America: Once a rich resource for state colleges, international students may leave U.S. universities
high and dry. Governing, 30(8), 32-38. Retrieved from https://archives.erepublic.com/GOV/GOV_Mag_May17.pdf
• ICEF Monitor. (2017). Canadian universities shifting focus to managing growth for 2017/18. Retrieved from
http://monitor.icef.com/2017/07/canadian-universities-shifting-focus-managing-growth-2017-18/
• Oliveira, D. B. & Soares A. M. (2016). Studying abroad: Developing a model for the decision process of international students. Journal of
Higher Education Policy and Management, 38(2), 126-139. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2016.1150234
• Onk, V. B. & Joseph, M. (2017). International student recruitment techniques: A preliminary analysis. Journal of Academic Administration in
Higher Education, 13(1), 25-34. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1139145.pdf
• Open Doors. (2017). Fast facts. Retrieved from https://www.iie.org/Researc-and-Insights/Open-Doors/Fact-Sheets-and-Infographics/Fast-
Facts

19. References, Ctd.
• Shanka, T., Quintal, V., & Taylor R. (2005). Factors influencing international students’ choice of an education destination—a
correspondence analysis. In Hayes, T. J. & Tadepalli, R. (Eds.), Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, 15(2), 31-46. doi:
10.1300/J050v15n02_06
• Stein, S., & de Andreotti, V. O. (2016). Cash, competition, or charity: International students and the global imaginary. Higher
Education: The International Journal of Higher Education Research, 72(2), 225-239. doi: 10.1007/s10734-015-9949-8
• Union University. (2017). MK students. [Data file]. Available from https://files.uu.edu/
• Union University. (2017). Enrollment by Year. [Data file]. Available from https://files.uu.edu/
• Union University. (2017). International Students. [Data file]. Available from https://files.uu.edu/
• Union University. (2017). NSSE17 Snapshot (Union University). [Data file]. Available from https://files.uu.edu/
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2017). U.S. nonimmigrant admissions. Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-
statistics/nonimmigrant
• Verbik, L. & Lasanowski, V. (2007). International student mobility: Patterns and trends. World Education News and Reviews, 20(10), 1-16.
Retrieved from https://nccastaff.bournemouth.ac.uk/hncharif/MathsCGs/Desktop/PGCertificate/Assignment%20-
%2002/International_student_mobility_abridged.pdf