"Well, I think it's worth sort of just framing things quite precisely. Why do we believe in diversity? We believe in it, I think, for two reasons.
One is that we learn from our differences. Harvard… Imperial… Any institution would be dull if everybody came from the same background, wanted to study precisely the same thing, wanted to pursue the same kind of career, and thought the same way about every issue - we learn from our differences. But the second reason to believe in diversity is that we can never hope to achieve as much by sampling from a fraction of the distribution of talent that's available to us as by sampling from all of it."
- Lawrence S. Bacow, President at Harvard University
(Conference at Imperial College London)
Universities across different countries witness an increasing number of international applications since students seek world-class overseas higher education. It is not only the students who seek admission into prestigious universities; even the university seeks global talents to make their campus community and alumni network diverse.
Universities across the globe have opened the doors of their campuses to international students for the following reasons:
Diverse campus environment - People from different cultures and ethnicities make up a diverse campus environment. Doing so enriches the campus life for the students, and they get an opportunity to learn more about the world they live in and themselves.
Multicultural classrooms and learning experience - A diversified, multicultural class enriches the learning experience through varied perspectives. Bringing people from around the world together serves as the right opportunity to learn about the experiences of others.
University Promotion - International students are a great source of positive word-of-mouth publicity. Universities make the most of this opportunity to promote themselves abroad.
Economic Contribution and Additional Income Streams - International students contribute highly to a country's economy. While the tuition fee is a big part of their contribution, it is not limited to just that. It extends to their food, transportation, and other living expenses. Most universities also charge higher tuition fees to International Students, which helps them create a positive impact on their profit statements.
Global Alumni - University's alumni network is vital for international students to assess the university's ranking. Having students from different parts of the world ensures a global alumni network for the university. Having global, well-connected alumni could also mean international opportunities and connections.
Research and Technological Contribution - Students from different parts of the world bring diverse perspectives that prove resourceful in research. Universities also become informed about technological advancements across the globe through these students, which can help the universities build a refined, advanced, and top-notch infrastructure that caters to academic needs.
International students make up the foundation of a well-connected and globalized world. They uplift the university's campus life and enrich the classroom learning experience. Therefore, universities seek international students just as much as the students seek universities. They do not want students who are only academically strong and from the same background; they look for students who come from different walks of life to make their campus more diverse.
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