The Importance of International Students to U.S. Science and Engineering
International students allow U.S. universities to offer high quality academic programs in science and engineering and to supply the graduate students essential for conducting research and retaining top faculty. Without international students the number of students pursuing graduate degrees (master’s and Ph.D.) in fields such as computer science and electrical engineering would be small given the size of the U.S. economy. In 2015, at U.S. universities there were only 7,783 full-time U.S. graduate students in electrical engineering, compared to 32,736 full-time international students. Similarly, in computer science, in 2015, there were only 12,539 full-time U.S. graduate students compared to 45,790 international graduate students at U.S. universities.
Maintaining a welcoming policy on international students is essential to preserving America’s role as a center of technological innovation. Such a policy means reasonable visa policies for international students and making it easier for students to work after graduation, including preserving STEM OPT and improved policies on H-1B visas, per country limits and employment-based green cards. Today, the global competition for international students and talented science and engineers is intense. U.S. policymakers would be wise to welcome international students to America.
National Foundation for American Policy. (2017). The Importance of International Students to U.S. Science and Engineering. Retrieved from http://nfap.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/The-Importance-of-International-Students.NFAP-Policy-Brief.October-20171.pdf