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Survey shows fewer foreign students at U.S. universities

Posted on: Monday, 14 November 2005, 15:36 CST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of foreign students at U.S. universities fell for the second straight year last year, but the decline that followed the September 11, 2001, attacks may already be abating, a survey showed on Monday.

Enrollment by international students dipped 1.3 percent in the 2004/05 academic year to about 565,000 students, after a 2.4 percent drop the prior year, according to an annual report by the Institute of International Education.

While the declines are a sharp contrast to the steady growth in enrollment a few years ago, the IIE said an early survey of the current school year suggests foreigners may already be coming back after being scared away by bad publicity and security fears.

"Strong recruitment, combined with more efficient and transparent student visa processes, have begun to stem the tide of decreasing international student enrollment," IIE president Allan Goodman said in a statement.

A separate online survey of colleges and universities by the IIE and other associations found foreign enrollment may have bounced back this year. Forty percent of respondents said the number of international students had increased, while 26 percent said it had declined further and 34 percent reported little change.

The online survey did not tally the total number of students, but echoed a report last week by the Council of Graduate Schools that showed a 1 percent increase in enrollment by foreigners in graduate schools in the fall of 2005.

In the IIE annual report, foreigners made up 4.0 percent of the student population in 2004/05, down from a 4.6 percent peak two years ago.

While there had been some backlash against foreign students after the September 11 attacks, educators said the U.S. government should do more to make foreign students feel welcome.

"We face severe competition in the global marketplace for the best and brightest students. The Departments of State and Homeland Security have worked hard to address the severe problems in the visa process, but further improvements are needed," said Nils Hasselmo, president of the Association of American Universities.

The report showed international students tend to favor science and business degrees -- with nearly 18 percent studying business and management, 17 percent in engineering, 9 percent in math and computer science, and 9 percent in physical or life sciences.

Source: REUTERS

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