According to the 2017 edition of Education at a Glance, an annual Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report that scrutinises worldwide education developments, over four-and-a-half million students were enrolled in higher education outside their home countries in 2015. This represents a fivefold increase on 1975’s 0.8 million.According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in 2016/17 there were 442,000 international students studying in the UK. This figure represented 24 per cent of all students studying there.Although 2017 saw a slump in applications from international students due to widespread uncertainty following Brexit, UCAS reported an increase in applications in January 2018 – the deadline for courses starting in September. Experts believe that the three per cent rise is likely due to last minute applications before Brexit closes the door.And when it comes to higher education, even the notoriously parochial Brits are beginning to embrace the trend of studying overseas, with reports of large increases in the number of British students studying at higher education institutions in America, Canada and France.Rising tuition fees in the UK (students now pay up to £9,250 per year) and an increased number of subjects taught in English at overseas universities are likely to be contributing to the trend. Research from the European Association for International Education in 2017 showed a 50-fold increase in English-medium Bachelors programmes at European universities since 2009.With factors such as these at play and the knowledge that employers are increasingly seeking those with a global mind-set, able to work across cultures and languages, the trend of attending an institute of higher education overseas is likely to continue.A spokesperson for The American School in England (TASIS) sums up the benefits of gaining an education from an international school.“Students attending international schools are perfectly poised to gain unique insights into the meaning of global citizenship and to appreciate the diversity of cultures through first-hand experience. An international education experience and the opportunities that it brings for cultural enrichment, travel, language acquisition, and exposure to diverse points of view can help a student stand out of the crowd in the university applicant pool.“The advantages of international mindedness don’t stop at university. As more companies expand into international markets, a cross-cultural educational experience may translate into improved employment prospects.”

Benefits of international schools

Providing a ‘welcoming climate’ for international students is where international schools, often the first choice of families in global transition, could find themselves at a distinct advantage.“In today’s highly competitive jobs market, a strong and proven international mindset can be a powerful differentiator,” says Mark London, head of marketing at ACS International Schools.“The international environment at our schools prepares students for careers that could take them to all corners of the globe and help them to succeed in a global workforce. The ability to understand and work with different nationalities and cultures is a highly regarded personal and professional asset.”At The British School of Brussels (BSB), which prepares students for the International Baccalaureate (IB), A Levels and BTEC courses, students have gone on to study at a wide selection of universities across the globe.“We hear regularly from university admissions officers about how much they value true internationalism, cultural awareness, and the resilience and adaptability of international students,” says Mark Andrews, head of careers at BSB.“The importance of proficiency in multiple languages is also prized. Our students are encouraged to make ambitious applications in the UK, continental Europe and North America – indeed, all over the world. The UK accounts for 70 per cent of our university admissions, while Belgium, Holland, Canada and the USA make up the bulk of the rest.”

Looking ahead

But it is not just the international curriculum choices and the global culture of international schools that are helping to give international students the advantage. Careers and academic counselling often begin at an early stage, and offer extensive support to students looking at their future options.“ACS begins exploring potential career pathways with students in grade nine (ages 13-14) and makes this an important focus in their remaining four years of high school,” says Mr London. “We run after-school workshops which help students identify and develop workplace skills and explore work placement opportunities.“We also have campus clubs for specific careers such as medicine and law. Our approach to all career guidance is always to stress ‘fit’ whether that’s finding the right university or the right career. This often develops naturally, as students talk about their options with their college counsellor.”At Marymount International School in London, a student-initiated Careers Fair enabled students to take the lead in identifying what they wanted to explore, using the school’s network of contacts. Several local schools attended the Fair and students were able to explore opportunities in law, medicine, engineering, finance, politics, media, journalism and theatre to name but a few.“For Grade 11 students, the thought of university being around the corner is frightening,” said Abena Saka, a student at the school. “And the earlier we are able to identify our strengths and talents, the sooner we can narrow the uncertainty.”The picture is similar at international schools around the world where career and academic counselling complements large-scale events to ignite interest in different fields.Jerudong International School in Brunei for example, runs Careers Carousels, a regular programme of visiting universities and a team of specialist advisors to assist with applications to universities around the world. The annual Higher Education evening also saw the ambassadors of the US, UK, Germany, France and Canada talking to children individually about the benefits of studying in their country. 

This article is from Relocate Global's Guide to International Education & Schools 2019/20 which is packed with expert tips and information for those relocating and the professionals supporting them. For volume options, co-branded editions, digital or online licence agreements and advertising opportunities, contact Fiona Murchie at +44 (0)1892 891334 or email fiona@relocatemagazine.com 

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