By Robert B. Stein
A recent survey of international students here revealed their top five reasons for coming to Missouri. They are:
- Welcome, friendly atmosphere
- Safe environment and low crime rates
- Low cost of living expenses
- Spacious campuses with open space and more privacy
- Diversity
These qualities can be found at every college and university in Missouri, making our state a global education destination.
In 2007, more than 10,500 students from around the globe enrolled in Missouri colleges and universities, an increase of 7.5 percent from the previous year. Missouri is 17th in the nation in the number of international students who study here. The University of Missouri-Columbia attracts the most international students, with about 1,800, followed by Washington University with about 1,600.
Most international students come to the U.S. to study business and management (19 percent), followed closely by engineering (17 percent). Most pay their own way (82 percent), with institutions providing financial assistance to some (10 percent).
The countries of origin for the majority of students who choose to study in Missouri are India, China, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan, in that order.
The Missouri Department of Higher Education helped launch a statewide initiative to encourage Missouri students to study abroad and attract international students to our institutions. Study Missouri Consortium will soon have a Web site that extols the benefits of studying in Missouri and provides links to our highly regarded institutions.
Bringing students from around the globe to study in Missouri contributes more than $237.8 million to the state’s economy each year. Higher education is a valuable international commodity. Supporting our institutions allows Missouri to successfully compete in the global marketplace.
As a professor, I know international students take their studies more seriously than their native-born peers. In general, they have more motivation to succeed, but that can lead to a lot of stress. Faculty members need to recognize signs of stress among international students and be ready to help. After all, they are thousands of miles from home.
Posted by: Faculty Dude | 10/02/2009 at 10:13 AM