Advancing the National Conversation on International Education

On February 22, 2024, IDP was pleased to gather key international education stakeholders together in Washington, D.C. for our second annual think-tank event, “Advancing the National Conversation on International Education: Survey Results and Next Steps for the U.S.”

A major outcome of the 2023 think-tank event was the idea for a Survey on a National Strategy for International Education. Over the past year, the “Survey on a National Strategy for U.S. International Education” was developed and executed by IDP, in close collaboration with AACRAO, ACCT, ACE, AIEA, AIRC, IIE, NACAC, NAFSA, The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, the U.S. for Success Coalition, EnglishUSA and others. To explore the full results of the survey, download the Survey on a National Strategy for International Education in the U.S. - Key Findings Report.

The 2024 event brought together many of the same stakeholders, as well as some new voices, to build on the momentum gained over the past year and continue the conversation on a national strategy for international education in the U.S. The results of the Sector Survey were unveiled, analyzed, and discussed.

Two expert panels shared their perspectives on the survey results: one with government representatives from the U.S. State Department, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Education, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and one with leaders from sector membership associations (NAFSA, AIRC, and AACRAO). The participants engaged in an open floor discussion, examining key takeaways from the survey and next steps for the implementation of a national strategy.

Themes

Throughout the presentation and discussion of the Sector Survey results, the government and sector panels, and the open floor discussions, several key themes arose:

• Recognizing Progress

• Framing the Strategy in a Larger Ecosystem

• Communication Strategy

• Industry & Workforce Development

• Community Colleges

• Diversity

• Addressing Risks through Advocacy

• Grassroots/Hybrid Organizational Structure