How to Recruit and Enroll International Students

Recruiting and enrolling international students takes more than simply dusting off the passport, hopping on a plane and talking with prospective students. In fact, there are many ways to engage international students without leaving the country.

This was the subject of the recent Capture Higher Ed webinar, International Intelligence: Strategies to Include in Your International Recruitment Plan.

In recent years, the reliably strong international enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities has seen a disturbing dip. In fall 2016, there was a 3 percent decline in international student enrollment followed by a 7 percent decline in 2017. Debates about why this is happening center around increased competition abroad as well as the unwelcoming, often hostile, political messaging coming from the Trump administration.

“That debate is not for us to take up today, but it is something that’s worth following as we continue into the next cycle,” says Jack Klett, Capture’s director of graduate and online initiatives.

Why is it worth following? It’s estimated that the 1.1 million international student population studying in the U.S. make a $40 billion a year contribution to the economy. And while fewer international students are coming here to study, countries like Canada, China, New Zealand, Japan and have all seen gains.

So, it’s never been more important for U.S. universities to develop the best strategies for recruiting and enrolling this crucial student population.

Listen as Klett and special guest Andy Ray, the Ohio University Graduate College’s director of international student services, explore the answers to key questions, such as:

  • What is the No. 1 way prospective international students are engaging with U.S. colleges and universities?
  • Are international recruiting agents helpful in communicating your message abroad?
  • How can the messages of a welcoming and inclusive campus community best be conveyed?
  • What role do international scholarships play in yielding an admitted international student?

Discover how targeted messaging can power your international student recruitment efforts, while also making meaningful connections with prospective international students. Not every institution can send team members abroad.

This webinar examines a comprehensive approach to formulating your international recruitment plan.