Seeking foreign students, Florida International University recruits in Brazil

International student enrollment in higher education throughout the pandemic went through difficulties and changes as international travel was restricted once the pandemic began. Though the Florida university system’s Board of Governors reported a 1% decline in international student enrollment last year, some Florida universities expect their upcoming fall semester’s international student enrollment to look promising.

Though the State University System of Florida had up to 30,000 international students from over 200 countries, throughout the pandemic that wasn’t always the case. However, as international travel restrictions have fallen, some universities estimate a slight increase in enrollment from abroad.

Florida International University (FIU) is known for its international student populations. It’s in the name of the school and the staff prides itself on the international student population. The Graham Center at FIU famously has flags lined up across the hallway of all the nations FIU students come from. A small increase had brought FIU hope that its pre-pandemic international enrollment numbers will eventually bounce back.

“We are actually slightly ahead from last year, and I think we are moving back to where we used to be pre-pandemic,” said Jody Glassman, vice president of enrollment and university admissions. “If it does come back to pre-pandemic levels, we hope it holds.”

Ms. Glassman said, though, that it’s hard to predict exact numbers for international students in the upcoming semester because they have to go home and come back with their student visas.

“We did see a slight growth for international enrollment for summer semester,” said Ms. Glassman. “It is a small, minor increase but we did have an increase.”

FIU has still been focusing on recruiting international students, sending someone from the admissions team to Brazil in April on FIU’s first recruitment tour post-pandemic.

“We have staff that is comfortable with travel, so we’re working with them on finding the programs and group travel that not only meet our strategic needs, but also their health and wellness needs,” said Ms. Glassman.

Over at another South Florida university, Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton also has estimated an increase in international student enrollment.

FAU is also known for its large international student population. With a total of 994 international students representing 101 countries, FAU wants to get back up to the pre-pandemic level as well.

“We won’t know the final numbers for fall 2022 until all the students are here and enrolled because of lots of things outside of our control like visa appointments, visa insurance and the ability to physically arrive in the US,” said Mihaela Metianu, assistant provost for global engagement. “But I can tell you that this year we issued up to 600 visa eligibility forms, which is more than double what we issued in fall 2019. So as far as interest and volume, we have definitely seen that interest.”

Ms. Metianu expects a growth in enrollment since there was such a decline in the fall 2020 semester but an increase in fall 2021, so if things continue in that pattern she feels there should be an increase.

The increase that has been detected has been mostly in graduate students, with those from India coming to FAU in high numbers.

FAU’s international student recruitment is focused on student retention. The university focuses on making sure those who have already been recruited remain at FAU.

The target is “retaining the students we have already recruited who are already enrolled, and making sure they are able to complete their studies,” said Ms. Metianu.

FAU has also begun a new recruiting partnership with an organization called Study Group, as well as continued its connections with Educations USA, a government-affiliated organization that helps US universities with recruiting abroad.