1. International Student Recruitment
International Student Recruitment-
Abilene Christian University and The University of Toronto
Across the world, there are more than six million international students attending schools of higher education. As a college student, meeting others from different cultures and backgrounds is one of the most enriching experiences higher education offers. The opportunity for people to attend schools internationally to expand their education and cultural perspectives is a progressive step in the world as well as education.
Each individual student may choose a college or university for a different purpose, whether it is for athletics or academics, each choice revolves around the chance for new opportunities. But since the opportunities offered are so varied and numerous, colleges must cater to each choice and student to encourage international education.
While America is the leading country in the number of international students, with over six million students attending college in America, countries across the world participate in international student recruitment as well.
To understand the differences between universities around the world and tactics used to attract international students, I will be analyzing the techniques from a United States university as well as a global university.
Abilene Christian University is a private Christian University located in Abilene, Texas. One of three universities located in Abilene, ACU is an exceptional choice for higher-level education.
ACU has been nationally ranked by the U.S News and World Report for 2022, recognizing the university for its extraordinary student success, teaching, and innovation.
Outside of their awards and recognition, ACU is well-known for its student life and on-campus community, which strives to engage students from different cultures and backgrounds. A few of my friends from high school decided to attend ACU, and from their expressed enthusiasm for their college, I was able to see first-hand the kind of impression the school makes on their students.
While it may seem strange to imagine international students choosing Abilene as their second home for the next four years, ACU does an excellent job of promoting the Wildcat life to international students.
Out of the 5,000 students attending the small D1 university, there are about 174 international students, according to CollegeFactual. While this 3% of students may seem small, the impact of the international student program is an integral part of the experience offered at ACU and has reached students from 27 different countries.
The International Student Admissions of ACU, make the application process for students a simple transition.
On their website, specifically dedicated to international student admissions, organized instructions, and steps for international students are laid out in a helpful and descriptive layout.
The idea behind ACU's international student outreach is the theme of celebration. ACU wants to celebrate the students, their cultures, their academic goals, their faith, and their stories.
The Office of International Students and Visiting Scholars is responsible for welcoming and helping global students adjust to life as a Wildcat. On their page, they have resources for move-in day, financial aid, international student orientation, and programs to encourage global students.
One of their programs, Home Away From Home, is a voluntary program designed to encourage international students to engage and connect with families within the community of Abilene. This program is a chance for international students to experience an American family, to create a home away from home. This program is also a way for families within the community to learn about different cultures from around the world.
ACU offers several other programs that are directed towards cultural immersion and celebration within on-campus and community-led events.
- 3D Dinners- A chance for international students to eat a home-cooked meal and engage in cross-cultural discussions within the community.
- Cultural Immersion Dinner- International students are encouraged to cook a traditional meal from their home country and invite faculty to educate and share cultural norms and values from their home countries.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters- Foster friendship program between new international students and current students apart of the international program. This mentor program is designed to help new international students and guide them through their time at ACU.
The ACU international student program offers inclusive events and programs to welcome new students from across the globe, as well as engage in supportive and educative topics to encourage cultural discussions.
The University of Toronto is a public research university located in Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1827, making it the oldest institution of higher learning in northern Canada.
The University of Toronto is ranked as #16 globally in the U.S News and World Report 2022, and is the highest ranked university in Canada. The school was also ranked among the top ten universities globally in thirteen different subjects.
Not only does the University of Toronto make a global footprint with their impressive awards, they also make a cultural impression within their campus with over 24,000 international students. Among these students, 164 countries are represented on campus, with China leading the international student body with over 15,000 students.
Diving into the international student recruitment of U of T, uncovered an abundant amount of resources and information for international students to use.
The International Student Website for the University of Toronto gives an in-depth description of the opportunities, scholarships, and community offered at of T.
The university immediately highlights their accolades and global rankings, promoting the school as soon as you access their site. While you continue to scroll down, the expansive list of academic opportunities and degrees are listed and provide additional links to learn more about each program offered. The website also offers an extensive description and links for the city of Toronto, including activities off-campus, restaurants, weather and climate, getting around, and other things to do in Toronto. And although there are several off-campus activities and events, the university offers an abundant student life on campus, through championship athletic teams, recreation, and community.
The on-campus community is offered to all students composed of over 1,000 clubs, intramurals teams, and artistic programs. Throughout their student life page, they display their culturally diverse community within the campus, encouraging international students to come and engage within the university.
One of the most in-depth portions of the website, discusses the acceptance and admissions process for international students. Since U of T has such a large number of international students (21% of the student body), the website divides the information by country, giving details specific to the student's respective country.
The section for admissions and applications for U of T, is divided into several subsections to create a simple process for international students to learn information about the application process. The section includes information about:
- How to Apply- application process for international students
- Study Permit Information- description of international student services
- Tuition and Fees- financial planning and assistance
- Admission Requirements-different requirements for academics, language, and applications
- Scholarships and Financial Aid- Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships, available to any international students accepted into U of T
- Details for Students from the U.S.- information specific to students from the United States
- Details for Students from the U.K.-information specific to students from the United Kingdom
- Details for Students from the U.A.E.-information specific to students of the U.A.E.
- Details for Students from the India-information specific to students from India
- Details for Students from the Indonesia-information specific to students from Indonesia
- Details for Students from the Singapore-information specific to students from Singapore
- Details for Students from the Mexico-information specific to students from Mexico
The University of Toronto markets itself to international students through the university's exceptional recognition and awards, as well as the welcoming community of student life and academic opportunities. The university reaches out to students through social media (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Tiktok) and remains prominent in their international student recruitment through the multi-cultural opportunities for students to connect and expand their knowledge through their peers.
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