Page 6 - StudyTravel Magazine August 2024 Issue & Star Awards 2024 Supplement

THE AMERICAS

US data reports show recovery of Another bumper year for
international education Brazilian agents in 2023
LANGUAGE SECONDARY TERTIARY ASSOCIATED LANGUAGE SECONDARY TERTIARY ASSOCIATED
he USA almost returned to pre-pandemic numbers of F-1 and razil’s outbound sector enjoyed another
M-1 international students in 2023, according to the latest strong year in 2023 according to agency
Tannual Sevis by the Numbers report from the Department of Bassociation Belta’s annual market
Homeland Security. research, based on the responses of 569 points
The report shows that there were 1,503,649 active F-1 and M-1 of sale across the country.
student visa holders in 2023, an increase of 10.4 per cent over the Belta www.belta.org.br found that 73.9 per
previous year and a recovery rate of 98.7 per cent on 2019. cent had a business increase in 2023, and only
India (377,620 student visa holders) overtook China (330,365) to 10.9 per cent saw a decline. The average growth
become the largest source country with a 27.1 per cent increase. was 21.68 per cent.
The top five was completed by South Korea (63,314 students, +1.1 This follows last year’s research, which
per cent); Canada (43,873, +6.0); and Brazil (41,703, +10). found an average 18 per cent increase over
The largest regional growth came from Africa at 16.4 per cent, 2019 levels. Alexandre Argenta, President of
with Ghana becoming a notable source market, followed by Central Belta, said, “I believe we can say our market has
and South America on 14.5 per cent. really surpassed the pandemic; 21.68 per cent
The majority of students were pursuing higher education growth is a huge number in a market we already
programmes, and the report shows that master’s students consider very mature.”
accounted for the largest group with 608,857 students, a 20 per Language courses remained the most
cent increase compared with the previous year. bit.ly/4cdZTtH popular programme type sold, while language
Meanwhile, Intensive English Programs (IEPs) in the USA had with work regained second place in 2023.
a six per cent increase in 2023 to 67,924 international students, Junior courses, high school programmes and
according to the latest Open Doors IEP report from the Institute professional courses completed the top five.
of International Education (IIE) www.iie.org, a recovery of 90.1 per Canada remained the most popular
cent on 2019 numbers. destination, but the UK leapfrogged the USA
There were 757,712 student weeks delivered at IEPs in the USA in into second place. The top five was completed
2023, a 72.7 per cent recovery on 2019 levels. by Ireland and Australia. Alexandre said the UK
Japan was the top source market with 10,987 students, a 4.7 had done a better job at promotion in Brazil,
per cent increase compared including a training
with the previous year. The top partnership between
five was completed by France the association and
(5,186 students, -10.6 per cent); the British Council,
Brazil (4,783, +6.7); China (3,982, while the ease of
-23.2) and Italy (3,653, +6.1). visa-free, short-
Taiwan, Vietnam and India were term travel to the UK
large year-on-year growth was a factor. More
markets. More at: bit.ly/3VDCSJF at: bit.ly/3xA8k3l

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