Are We Still Welcoming? Understanding and Navigating Government Policies Impacting International Students
Session Description
Government policies aimed at restricting international students, such as tightened visa issuance, processing delays, housing shortages, and shifting immigration regulations, have become growing concerns for students aspiring to pursue post-secondary education abroad. These barriers, often amplified or misunderstood through media narratives, raise an important and timely question: “Are we still welcoming?”
This session brings together members from Australia, Canada, the UK, and the USA to examine how government policies and institutional responses in leading destination countries are shaping international student experiences and influencing their decisions.
Discussion Points Include:
Policy Impact: How evolving visa regulations, housing restrictions, and related policies are affecting international enrollment trends and recruitment strategies.
Media Narratives: Addressing common misconceptions and anxieties fueled by headlines, and offering strategies to help students and families interpret media narratives with context and calm.
Navigating Uncertainty: Approaches to counsel students through unpredictable and ongoing changes in immigration and non-immigration policies, including visa delays, housing shortages, and political shifts.
Data-Driven Insights: Reviewing the latest data from major stakeholders in international education, such as sector associations and institutions to identify where shifts in student applications and mobility patterns are occurring, and why.
W.T.F. (What’s The Feeling?) : A space for attendees to share what they’re hearing on the ground. How are policy changes and media coverage affecting students, and how can we respond with empathy, clarity, and practical support?
Attendees will leave with practical strategies and insights to better advocate for international students, ensuring global education remains accessible and inclusive despite evolving challenges. Join us to strengthen a collaborative, “Stronger Together” message that fosters clarity, confidence, and a truly welcoming environment for students around the world.
Experience Level
Intermediate
Experienced
Target Audience
Post-Secondary (College & University)
Organization (For-Profit, Non-Profit, CBO)