ASU ranked top university of choice for international students

With a solid health care industry outlook and a booming tech sector, Arizona is attracting an international workforce to plant down and help build the economy. It’s also attracting students from across the globe to come study and filter right into the labor force, right out of college. This is evident in the 2018 Open Doors Report from the International Education Exchange, which just dubbed Arizona State University the top public university of choice for international students for the fourth year in a row.

Based on figures from the previous school year, ASU touted about 13,500 international students from more than 136 countries. This places ASU fifth on the overall list, trailing behind four private universities including Columbia University, University of Southern California, New York University, and Northeastern University.

The Open Doors study also reported that the number of international students in the United States passed one million for the third consecutive year, and ASU had a lot to do with that.

Part of what’s working for Arizona State is its expansive research opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students. But another asset the university boasts is life beyond college. The International Students and Scholars Center provides resources to international students along with advisement on a number of topics while they’re studying in Tempe.

“Our international students bring the whole world to our university,” said Holly Singh, senior director of the International Students and Scholars Center (ISSC), in a statement. “They are a diverse set of learners who enrich our university culture and make ASU a truly global community.”

The ISSC helps students transition from studying in school to working a job and guiding their career along. The group’s Optional Practical Training program gives eligible students up to 12 months of employment authorization in their major area of study. It also acts like a work-study opportunity, giving students hands-on work experience to make them more attractive to employers.

ISSC also helps with visa, travel and job placement assistance, and creates opportunities for international students to adapt to the culture around them. From communication skills crash courses to informal gatherings, international students have the opportunity to jump into the bloodstream of the thriving young workforce culture around them.

“These students are not only learning in the academic sphere, but also at the psycho-emotional and sociocultural levels,” added Singh, “thereby creating new ways of connecting and collaborating. These ‘global citizens’ need our full support so they continue to create a better future for us.”

The study from International Education Exchange also reported an increase of ASU students studying abroad, placing the university in the top 10 for students who head out to an international landing spot. The 6 percent increase shows a year-over-year increase in the student exchange rate for the past five years. From international study to research to internships and service programs, American students who are based at ASU are increasingly exploring international opportunities.