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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
US shuns foreign students? Hong Kong, China, Japan throw doors open
US doesn't want you? No problem, you're welcome in other countries! This is the message from universities worldwide offering a haven to students affected by President Donald Trump's tough measures on academic institutions. Top universities see a chance to woo global talent and boost their academic revenue as the United States pulls up its drawbridge. Hong Kong opens its doors The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) announced on Friday an 'open invitation' to foreign students studying at Harvard or holding confirmed offers. 'As a leading international institution ranked among the top universities globally, HKUST is extending this opportunity to ensure talented students can pursue their educational goals without disruption,' the university said. 'We will provide unconditional offers, streamlined admissions, and academic support to ensure a seamless transition for interested students.' Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee told lawmakers in Cantonese on Thursday: 'Hong Kong will provide full support to our universities, giving \[affected students] the best assistance if they wish to come to Hong Kong.' The city currently has 30,000 places for international students at its eight publicly funded universities. China steps in Xi'an Jiaotong University in China has appealed to students at Harvard, singled out in Trump's crackdown, to join them. 'We cordially invite international students from Harvard University to join our academic community. In these times of change, we are honoured to offer you a stable platform for your academic pursuits,' the university said. Opportunities in Japan Osaka University, ranked among Japan's top institutions, is offering tuition fee waivers, research grants, and help with travel arrangements for students and researchers at US institutions wanting to transfer. Japan's Kyoto University and Tokyo University are also exploring similar schemes. Jessica Turner, CEO of Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a London-based analytics firm that ranks universities globally, said other leading universities in Europe and Asia-Pacific were moving to attract students left in limbo by US policies. 'Germany, France and Ireland are emerging as particularly attractive alternatives in Europe,' she said. 'New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and mainland China are rising in profile.' Switching schools Chinese students have been particularly targeted in Trump's crackdown. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged on Wednesday to 'aggressively' curb visas for Chinese students. More than 275,000 Chinese students are enrolled in US colleges, fuelling revenue for universities and providing a vital pipeline for tech companies. In 2023, international students – 54% from India and China – contributed more than $50 billion to the US economy, according to the US Department of Commerce. India's Ministry of External Affairs says around 330,000 Indian students were in the US in 2023-24, including roughly 788 at Harvard. The crackdown comes as many young people prepare to head to the US in August to secure accommodation and settle in before term begins. Saurabh Arora, founder and CEO of University Living, told Business Standard, 'The United States remains a top choice for Indian students, thanks to its world-class universities, research opportunities, and professional pathways. However, these developments may prompt families to more carefully weigh their options, especially those prioritising policy consistency and transparency.' Varun Singh, managing director at XIPHIAS Immigration, said, 'Indian students must have a backup plan. They can also apply to countries like Canada, the UK, or Australia to keep options open in case of last-minute disruptions.' Arora added, 'International students contribute more than just tuition. They bring global perspectives that enrich classrooms and research. According to our Indian Student Mobility Report 2024, Indian students are projected to spend $17.4 billion annually, including $10.1 billion on academic expenses alone.' Dai, 24, a Chinese student based in Chengdu, had planned to head to the US for her masters but is now weighing up an offer in Britain. 'The various policies (by the US government) were a slap in my face,' she said, speaking to Reuters on the condition of using only her surname. 'I'm thinking about my mental health and it's possible that I indeed change schools.' British and European Union students are also now more wary of applying to US universities, said Tom Moon, deputy head of consultancy at Oxbridge Applications, which helps students with their applications. Universities UK, which promotes British institutions, said it had seen an uptick in applications from US-based students but noted that it was too early to say if this would translate into more enrolments. Reputational risks Ella Rickets, an 18-year-old first-year student at Harvard from Canada, said she was worried about what might happen if Harvard's ability to enrol foreign students was revoked. 'Around the time I was applying to schools, the only university across the Atlantic I considered was Oxford... However, I realised that I would not be able to afford the international tuition and there was no sufficient scholarship or financial aid available,' she said. If forced to transfer, she would most likely apply to the University of Toronto, she told Reuters. QS said visits to its 'Study in America' online guide have dropped by 17.6% in the past year, with interest from India down by more than half. 'Measurable impacts on enrolment typically emerge within six to 18 months. Reputational effects, however, often linger far longer, particularly where visa uncertainty and shifting work rights play into perceptions of risk versus return,' Turner said. Caleb Thompson, a 20-year-old US student at Harvard who lives with eight international scholars, told Reuters, 'If America turns these brilliant and talented students away, they will find other places to work and study.'
Nikkei Asia
6 days ago
- Business
- Nikkei Asia
Asia woos talent from US as Trump attacks immigration and Harvard
PALO ALTO, California -- Immediately after the Trump administration tried to halt Harvard University's ability to enroll international students, Asian countries swooped in to snap up talented students and professionals no longer able -- or willing -- to work and study in the U.S. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has offered unconditional admission to displaced Harvard students, along with streamlined admissions processes and academic support.
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First Post
24-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Universities in Hong Kong to welcome more foreign students after US govt ban at Harvard
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology on Friday invited international students enrolled at Harvard, as well as anyone with offers to attend the elite school, to continue their studies at HKUST read more Some of Harvard's students and staff were stunned by the announcement, which has left thousands of students in limbo. File image/Reuters Hong Kong has said it will open its universities to more international students, highlighting those affected by the US government's move this week to block Harvard from enrolling foreign nationals. The sharp escalation in US President Donald Trump's longstanding feud with the prestigious university came as tensions simmer between Washington and Beijing over trade and other Trump administration's decision on Thursday – which was temporarily halted by a US judge after Harvard sued – has thrown the future of thousands of foreign students and the lucrative income stream they provide into doubt. On Friday, Hong Kong Education Secretary Christine Choi called on universities in the Chinese city to welcome 'outstanding students from all over the world'. 'For international students affected by the United States' student admission policy, the Education Bureau (EDB) has appealed to all universities in Hong Kong to provide facilitation measures for eligible students,' Choi said in a statement, noting the ban on Harvard's admission of international students. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She said local universities were making use of government measures, including relaxing the maximum limits on foreign students to attract more to Hong Kong. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology on Friday invited international students enrolled at Harvard, as well as anyone with offers to attend the elite school, to continue their studies at HKUST. 'HKUST is extending this opportunity to ensure talented students can pursue their educational goals without disruption,' it said in a statement. The university 'will provide unconditional offers, streamlined admission procedures, and academic support to facilitate a seamless transition for interested students', it added. Harvard is ranked number one in US News and World Report's most recent list of the world's top universities, while HKUST is 105 out of more than 2,000 ranked. President Trump is furious at Harvard for rejecting his administration's push for oversight on admissions and hiring amid his claims the school is a hotbed of anti-Semitism and 'woke' liberal ideology. A US judge on Friday halted the administration's move to prevent Harvard from admitting foreign students after the university sued, calling the government's action unlawful. US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday that the administration's decision would hold Harvard 'accountable for fostering violence, anti-Semitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Beijing condemned the 'politicisation of educational cooperation', adding that the move by Washington would 'only harm the image and international standing of the United States'. Around 1,300 Chinese students are enrolled at Harvard, around a fifth of its international student body, according to university data. Hundreds of thousands more attend other US colleges and universities, long viewed by many in China as beacons of academic freedom and rigour. burs-sco/fec © Agence France-Presse
Business Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Times
Germany and Hong Kong look to lure students exiled from Harvard
[LONDON] Universities in Asia and Europe are hoping US President Donald Trump's latest attack on Harvard will hand them a decisive advantage as they try to reverse a decades-old brain drain of talent to the US, with Germany going so far as to suggest the school establish an outpost within its borders. Federal culture minister Wolfram Weimer told Bloomberg that Harvard could establish an 'exile campus' in the country. 'To students from Harvard and other American universities, I say: You are more than welcome in Germany,' Weimer said. That move came shortly after the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology also issued an invitation, saying that any international student enrolled at Harvard would be welcome to continue their studies in Hong Kong. Such overtures have already been ramping up since Trump took office, during which time he has slashed billions in funding for science, public health and education, laid off tens of thousands of federal employees who work in these fields, and shrunk grants for scientific research to the lowest levels in decades. Roughly half of graduate students in science and engineering come from abroad, and foreign-born scholars are increasingly concerned that they could be targeted should the administration intensify its crackdown on visa holders. In February, Kseniia Petrova, a Russian biologist employed at Harvard Medical School, was detained at the US border for failing to properly declare frog embryos and is still fighting deportation. The following month, Congress sent letters to six universities demanding detailed information about all of their Chinese students, citing national security concerns. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Trump's administration has taken particular aim at elite colleges, including Harvard, Columbia, Cornell and Princeton, citing failures to protect Jewish students following the October 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas and the subsequent war in Gaza, which sparked a wave of Pro-Palestine protests on campuses. The White House has used antisemitism-which the schools acknowledge is a problem on their campuses to launch a broader attack to reshape higher education. It's seeking to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, as well as confront institutions it views as heavily partisan towards left-wing causes. No institution, though, has come under a bigger assault than Harvard, the country's most pre-eminent university. The US government has cut at least US$2.6 billion in funding from the school, threatened its non-profit status, and sought to make an example of the school for not complying with demands such as giving the government greater oversight over academic programmes, admissions and hiring practices. US universities have long led the world in cutting-edge scientific research but now countries around the world are eyeing their scientists as a way to energise their own economies. And the interest is mutual: a March poll by the journal Nature found that three-quarters of more than 1,600 US-based researchers were considering applying for jobs overseas. Yet many countries still face an uphill battle in competing with the US. European nations have been among the most vocal in their appeals to scientists, while also freeing up money for universities and research institutes to use on recruitment. The EU launched a 500 million euros (S$732 million) initiative earlier this month to attract foreign researchers. France has committed 100 million euros to make the country a safe haven for science, Spain allocated an additional 45 million euros to a programme to hire leading scholars, and the UK is planning to unveil its own £50 million (S$87 million) plan. That's on top of pushes from individual institutions in Germany, Sweden, Austria and elsewhere to lure scientists with newly created positions, special funding and fast-track visas. European universities report that they have been inundated with inquiries from US-based academics. But whether scholars ultimately choose to relocate given Europe's lower average salaries and historically smaller research funds is a different question. Those concerns are why Antoine Petit, head of France's flagship CNRS research centre, wants to temper expectations. 'We are talking about a handful of individuals moving,' Petit said. 'Maybe a couple dozen, not more.' Trump's assault on the Ivy League is also being met with some resistance from US universities. Harvard has sued to restore its funding as well as its ability to enrol foreign students and deployed money to support its researchers. The Trump administration also says it's willing to negotiate with colleges to end the standoff. The biggest obstacle to scientists quitting the US is simply money. US universities have more of it to fund research and can pay higher salaries. Harvard has a US$53 billion endowment and even the poorest Ivy League schools have significant resources compared to non-US institutions. When he recently visited Berlin, Seth Marder entertained an informal entreaty from a German colleague. The materials chemist at the University of Colorado at Boulder also runs the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, an area of study that's contracting under the Trump administration. Moving his lab and the people are not feasible, as the cost of relocating or replacing the specialised equipment alone would likely be US$2 to US$3 million. His lab includes about 15 people, and he feels responsible for them. 'To the question of whether I'd ever move my lab abroad, logistically, it would be extraordinarily difficult,' said Marder, 63. 'From a very practical perspective, their salaries and US research experience don't easily align with European compensation structures.' Senior researchers in France typically don't make more than 5,000 euros net per month, said Eric Berton, president of the University of Aix-Marseille, which was one of the first institutions to put out a hiring call to US-based scientists. That's far lower than what can be on offer in the US. While Berton said that the school has received about 300 applications for its roughly 20 spots, including from candidates associated with prestigious institutions such as Nasa, he noted that the majority are over 50 and 'have already made money'. That's not the only challenge European institutions face in recruiting from the US, according to a top French official who declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the issue. Scholars are often reluctant to uproot their families and research projects, and it's not easy to explain to European scientists why they should make do with low salaries and budgets while the red carpet is rolled out for their non-European peers. To get around these concerns, some European institutions have played up the lower costs of living and the better quality of life available on the continent. Those points resonated with Molly, a US scientist in the running for an associate researcher position at a large French university. Molly, who asked not to be named as the hiring process is ongoing, said that while her income would fall to less than 4,000 euros net per month down from around US$6,100 in the US that would be offset by lower expenses. 'Even if the salary on paper appears quite different, there's many things in the US you have to pay for out of pocket,' she said. BLOOMBERG
India Today
23-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Chinese University steps in with ‘unconditional offers' for Harvard's students
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has extended unconditional offers to international students at Harvard, following recent US government actions that have affected the university's ability to enrol Chinese university said the step would help "ensure a smooth transition" for students who may be unable to enroll for the next academic year. Over 1,000 Chinese students are currently studying at the prestigious Ivy League move comes amid escalating tensions between the US government and Harvard, with the Department of Homeland Security citing concerns over campus safety and alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Meanwhile, Harvard has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the decision will have a devastating impact on thousands of international students. The university is also suing over a cut of more than USD 2 billion in federal blocks Trump from revoking Harvard enrollmentMeanwhile, a US judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from revoking Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign students. Harvard University called the revocation a "blatant violation" of the US Constitution and other federal laws and had an "immediate and devastating effect" on the university and more than 7,000 visa InMust Watch
