Page 27 - StudyTravel Magazine September/October 2021 Issue

secOndary schOOl

trends wOrldwIde

specIal repOrt

International secondary students in the USA,
Canada, UK and Australia declined during the
Covid-19 pandemic but for some countries this
decrease was part of a general trend spanning the
last few years. Bethan Norris finds out more.

secondAry

ll of the destinations featured the two countries was conducted with the increase of international
in this report on secondary by ST Magazine in July 2019 https:// schools in China, with foreign teachers
Aproviders experienced a decline studytravel.network/magazine/ teaching core courses, there might be
in international student numbers last news/0/26735. In this report it was less incentive for the parents to send
year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. highlighted that Chinese students students overseas.”
However, a closer look at the statistics were increasingly choosing to study Despite the challenges of the past
shows that some countries were elsewhere, with the UK and Australia 18 months, secondary providers have
already facing a trend of decline and being the main beneficiaries, although kept up their international marketing
the pandemic has hastened this. Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong were efforts. Colleen says, “I have done
The most noticeable factor also noted as alternatives. over 15 different agent fairs and five
contributing to this trend is a The USA is not the only country or six student/family fairs.... I was
decrease in Chinese students. In being shunned by Chinese secondary able to make great connections with
the USA, declining Chinese student students, however. Australia has also new agents and continue to reconnect
numbers accounted for 65 per cent seen a decline of 42 per cent since with existing agents.”
(21,716 students) of the overall 2017, Canada 13 per cent, and the UK In Australia, Leeanne Moriarty
decrease in total international student 9.5 per cent. from Mercedes College www.
enrolments between 2016 and 2021. Colleen Hannah from Mission Public mercedes.catholic.edu.au says, “I
Eric Duwe from Wisconsin Lutheran Schools www.mpsd.ca in Canada still participate in virtual fairs and
High School www.wlhs.org in the USA says that falling Chinese student other opportunities, but obviously, it
says, “We have seen a decrease in the enrolments is hampering their current is limited until I can offer a firm date
number of Chinese students at WLHS recruitment efforts. “If we were that high school students, who are
each year since a height in enrollment seeing pre-Covid numbers from our under 18, can enter Australia.”
of Chinese students in the 2016-2017 Chinese partners, we would be over Mark Baczynski from Chaminade
school year. I’d attribute the decline capacity,” she says. “However, Covid is College Preparatory School www.
to a rise in international secondary not the only factor causing a reduction chaminade-stl.org in the USA, adds,
options from within China coupled in our Chinese numbers, there are “With the difficulties in travelling we
with an era of discouraging political many political factors as well.” have tried many different activities
rhetoric that gave the impression that Michelle Layton from Barrie School – virtual fairs, online open houses,
the USA wouldn’t be as welcoming as a www.barrie.org in the USA says more targeted and direct social media
study destination.” that they are still receiving healthy messaging, and even a broader use
An investigation into the souring enrolments from Chinese students. of parents, current and past students
diplomatic relations between China However, she adds, “I believe that who are in the countries where we are
and the USA and how this was parents in China have more choices in looking for new students.”
affecting student mobility between their home country now. For example, bethan@studytravel.network

24 STUDYTRAVEL MAGAzINE