News - from the College and the Students
June 21stRecord numbers fo South American Students. The majority of the increases are
from three countries – Brazil, Chile & Colombia
- Source - BMI
Record numbers of South Americans studying abroad
While student numbers in some of the traditional Asian markets have started to decline, South American students are studying abroad in record numbers.
The majority of the increases are from three countries – Brazil, Chile & Colombia – and there is strong evidence that the numbers are increasing at a faster
rate than in 2008, which in itself was a record year for students studying overseas.
Obtaining overseas qualifications and experience is also being encouraged by the Chilean & Colombian governments who have both announced massive
new scholarship programs or large increases to existing programs.
Colfuturo, Colombia’s leading scholarship agency which awarded 573 scholarships in 2008, has been given government funding to almost double the number
of scholarships to 1,000 in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Not to be outdone, late last year the Chilean government announced that its Becas Chile scholarship program
will award 3,300 scholarships over the next 10 years. The first 993 have already been awarded and the scholarships cover both tuition and living expenses.
Another reason for the dramatic increase in student numbers – especially from Brazil & Colombia – is the political stability over the last five years under the
governments of President Lula of Brazil and President Uribe of Colombia. This has led to an excellent economic environment and stable exchange rate which
in turn has given parents and students more confidence to invest in obtaining an international education.
Latin American companies are increasingly operating internationally and are therefore giving priority to candidates who have studied abroad and who speak
other languages. At the same time, many universities are also encouraging students to spend part of their course abroad and require them to speak English.
Though the UK and USA has seen steady growth in recent years it is Australia, Canada, France, Germany & Ireland who have seen double and triple digit
increases in student numbers. This has been due to active recruiting in the region and is underlined by the fact that a record number of institutions participated
in the Expo-Estudiante fairs in Colombia last October and this year’s Salão do Estudante, Brazil’s leading international student recruitment event. Australia and
Canada have also benefited from easing of visa restrictions and strong government support.
Source BMI
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