The Global Reach to Engage Academic Talent program, a state initiative that is trying to turn the state into a hotbed for educating international students — and keeping them here after graduation.
Azril Jamaluddin, a junior studying finance, had never heard of Ohio University two years ago.
When he was a freshman in college, he was studying at Taylor’s College in Subang Jaya, Malaysia, his home country.
He said the rural atmosphere of Athens was a welcomed change of pace from Kuala Lampour, the capital of Malaysia, where he had lived all of his life.
“I just wanted a change of environment,” he said.
But Jamaluddin said he is unlikely to stay in Ohio after he graduates.
“I have no plans yet,” he said. “I’m thinking of working here for a bit just to get experience and try to meet some of the locals here.”
Students like Jamaluddin are the primary focus of the Global Reach to Engage Academic Talent program, a state initiative that is trying to turn Ohio into a hotbed for educating international students as well as keeping them here after graduation.
The program, which launched last month, looks to increase the amount of international students at post-secondary institutions from 4.1 to 6 percent within the next two years.
“I think it stemmed from Governor Kasich and Chancellor Carey seeing the value of not only bringing international students to Ohio, (but also providing) different cultural resources to students who are here,” Jeff Robinson, spokesman for Carey, said. “In that way, it’s a win-win.”
The program has been in the works since the passage of House Bill 484 in April of last year, which among other things, called on Board of Regents Chancellor John Carey to submit a report by the end of the year outlining the state’s strategy for attracting more international students.
According to Carey’s report, a 1.9 percent increase in international students would contribute to a $420 million increase in the state’s economy and generate an additional 5,751 jobs.
The initiative also strives for an increase in the number of international students who stick around after they graduate, hoping for an increase from 31.3 percent to 50 percent. According to Carey’s report, that would generate an additional 1,200 jobs.
How the state will achieve those objectives is a more complicated matter.
Lauren McGarity, special projects director and globalization liaison at the Board of Regents, said the effort will require a series of regional meetings between universities, businesses and members of the Board of Regents.
But there are a considerable amount of regulations standing in the way of those efforts.
Jamaluddin holds an F-1 type visa, which is the same type of license that 90 percent of international students hold.
With that type of visa, students can’t stay in the state after their school term ends unless they apply for an “Optional Practical Training” job, which must directly relate to the student’s course of study.
The Board of Regents passed a resolution on Aug. 13, that called for universities and colleges to formulate their own strategies for attracting more international students.
“This is a collaborative effort,” McGarity said. “This isn’t being imposed on anybody. All different stakeholders will be asked to do something different so that we can move the needle …. We can’t all do what we’re currently doing otherwise nothing will change.”
Last year, international students made up about 6.3 percent of the total enrollment at OU, which amounts to a total of 1,860 according to data obtained from the Ohio University Factbook published in August.
Craig Cornell, senior vice provost for Strategic Enrollment, said figure was a slight dip from previous years.
Cornell said the university already has some strategies in place to attract international students.
“The strong academic reputation in and of itself of Ohio University attracts students from all over the globe,” he said. “In addition, specific efforts are made by faculty and staff to recruit or expand on already strong ties with other institutions worldwide to attract students. We also attend fairs, recruit and market to international students every year.”
But for some students, like Jamaluddin, it just makes more financial sense to leave the state — and the country — once they complete their education.
“I have a lot of experience in my dad’s business, so I was thinking of (returning to Malaysia and) expanding his business,” he said.
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