Number of Nepali students over 16,000 studying in the US hits all-time high
International Education Week (IEW) is being celebrated in the United States of America.
As per the information from the US Department of State, the Department of State, in partnership with the Department of Education is celebrating International Education Week (IEW) from November 18-22 under the “Explore” theme.
IEW is an annual joint effort to highlight the benefits to students, families and communities in the United States and abroad of international educational exchange that provides an opportunity to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences.
IEW celebrates the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. IEW is an opportunity to highlight the value of global and cultural competencies and promote programs that help U.S. students and teachers develop global skills for success in the 21st century.
This celebration highlights the benefits of international education through the stories and experiences of alumni and institutions who participated in international exchange programs.
This year’s theme invites students, scholars, institutions, and others to explore international education opportunities that equip them with the skills and knowledge to succeed.
Launching IEW on Monday, the Department of State, in collaboration with the Institute of International Education (IIE), released the annual Open Doors Report, which measures and outlines trends in international student mobility. The IIE has been conducting an annual statistical survey on international students in the US since its founding in 1919 and in partnership with the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs since 1972.
Now in its 75th year, Open Doors reports more than 1.12 million international students studied at U.S. colleges and universities in the 2023-2024 academic year, a record high that underscores US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s commitment to making the United States the top destination for international study.
According to the Department of Commerce, the economic activity of international students also makes significant contributions to the U.S. economy bringing in more than US $50 billion in 2023.
To learn more about the Open Doors data, visit opendoorsdata.org.
In addition to the Open Doors Report, the Department will highlight key aspects of international education throughout the week, including: #StudyWithUS efforts to recruit international students to study in the United States; foreign language-learning opportunities for U.S. citizens as well as English language opportunities for students in other countries; and alumni of international educational exchange who made a positive difference in their communities and countries.
As part of IEW, approximately 1,700 high school students participating in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX), Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX), and Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) programs will share about their countries and cultures in schools and communities across the United States.
Last year, students from these programs conducted nearly 6,100 presentations during IEW, reaching more than 110,000 Americans.
Receiving international students from diverse backgrounds at U.S. institutions and encouraging U.S. students to study abroad strengthens ties between the United States and countries around the world.
Exchanges also develop the relationships between people and communities that are necessary to solve global challenges.
Through exchange programs, all students involved share their culture, gain a new perspective through engaging with their peers, and develop cultural understanding.
The State Department sponsors numerous scholarships to help eliminate any financial barriers students may have so that they are able to develop these important skills in an increasingly connected world.
According to the latest Open Doors Report, 1,126,690 students from around the world are studying in various US universities in the academic year 2023/24.
According to the Open Doors Report 2024, the largest number of international students studying in the US in the academic year 2023/24 are from India with 331,602 students enrolled while 277,398 are from China, and 43,149 from South Korea.
Likewise, there are 28,998 from Canada, 23,157 from Taiwan, 22,066 from Vietnam, 20,029 from Nigeria, 17,099 from Bangladesh, 16,877 from Brazil, and 16,742 from Nepal.
According to the Open Doors Report 2024 released on Monday, Indian students are studying in the US has make India the “top sender” of international students to America for the first time in 15 years,
The number of Nepali students studying in the US has also reached its highest point ever with an increase of 10.9 percent compared to the previous year.
Citing the ‘Open Doors Report 2024’ the US Embassy in Kathmandu said currently, 16,742 Nepali students are studying in US universities.
“Nepali students are currently the 10th largest group of international students studying in US universities,” the embassy said.
In the academic year 2022-23, the leading source country for international students in the US was China followed by India.
Normally, the academic year in the US begins in September and runs through May.
India also “remained the largest sender” of international graduate (masters and PhD level) students in the US for the second year.
The number of Indian graduate students increased by 19 per cent to reach 1,96,567, it said.
