MEDIATRACNET
Nigeria is leading Africa as the source of international students from the continent and the 10th largest place of origin country worldwide, the latest 2021 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange has revealed.
The report disclosed that the current figure of 12,860 Nigerian student population currently studying in the United States represents 33 percent of African students in the United States.
The new report however showed there was a slight drop in the number of students from Nigeria currently studying in the United States, and less than half the worldwide average decline apparently as a result of the impact of the pandemic.
“Nigerians are enrolled in more than 1,000 institutions in the United States, while students using EducationUSA Nigeria services recorded $28 million in scholarships and financial aid awarded to those admitted for the 2021 academic year,” the report said.
In 2020/2021, the United States remains the top destination for international students, welcoming over 914,000 international students from over 200 places of origin, the report said.
International students build life-long connections with Americans, their peers, host families, professors and communities.
These relationships help grow America’s international partnerships, forging ties that help the world collectively global challenges.
The Open Doors 2021 report released on Monday by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, highlights the U.S. higher education sector as a destination of choice for international students and the growing interest in international educational exchange among U.S. students.
The release of the new Open Doors data marks the celebration of International Education Week, a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from other countries to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.
The Open Doors® report is published annually by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.