International Student Mobility Trends 2014: The Upward Momentum of STEM Fields

Abstract

In the midst of worldwide competition, higher education institutions (HEIs) aim to attract more STEM students. Until now, the U.S. has maintained its dominance and seen a 27 percent increase in international STEM enrollment over the past five years. However, growth varies significantly by location and institutional type. This article discusses global and national mobility trends in the four major English-language destination countries - U.S., UK, Australia and Canada, explores primary STEM markets pursuant to international recruitment in the U.S., in order to help HEIs develop an effective and targeted recruitment strategy adaptive to this competitive global marketplace.

Keywords: international student mobility, international recruitment, international enrollment management, STEM

JEL Classification: N30, I20, I21, J00