The effect of COVID-19 on international student mobility
| Variables | Past | Present | Future |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study abroad | It was a rising trend, globally. It was also seen as new job opportunities and a new life | There is a huge break in traditional studying abroad | It seems to be transformed into online study abroad maybe with short visits to the university, for example, for exams and some practical studies |
| Study at home country | It is known that students from developed countries prefer to study at home country in general. On the other side, students from developing countries or less developed countries generally prefer to study abroad | International students mostly have to return to their home. And new submissions were declined and most of students had to study at home | There is a great demand for study abroad that online international student mobility will be higher until the conditions are sufficient for physical student mobility |
| Online education | Online education is not the first preference for teaching in higher education | COVID-19 pandemic period made university management and teaching staff to transform into online education | The demand of the online education programs and systems is getting higher that the future will be hosted much more online courses and education globally |
| Hybrid education | Hybrid models that combine face-to-face and online education are challenging for academics, but provide an advantage for international students to continue their education | As the hybrid education system that started in the pandemic period develops, it will affect the university choices of the students in various periods in the future | In particular, the hybrid system will create the opportunity to spend some semesters face-to-face and some semesters online in the future, depending on the budgets of students |
| Working abroad | Working abroad was so popular for university students | Working abroad programs and options are all declined and reduced | Working abroad will not be as easy as past periods |
| Internship abroad | The support of internship abroad home country universities was an opportunity to test their adaptation skills | The pandemic also reduced opportunities for internship abroad, and students returned before completing their internship | The post-pandemic period can be an internship abroad for students who have difficulty deciding on studying abroad |
| Working at home country | Although their governments give scholarships to serve their country students from developing or less developed countries preferred to work abroad | Working conditions has been changed, students' hopes of finding a job in their home country also decreased | Under the pandemic conditions of countries, job sharing approaches to working from home will reveal a new group of students who work in countries and receive online international education |
| Internship at home country | Especially in applied professions, an internship in vocational education is required for graduation | Universities have explored the possibilities of graduating by making various reports for students who cannot complete their internships | Not having an internship in the future will create a deficiency for graduation. Maybe universities will try to provide some make-up internship opportunities for graduates |
| Agencies for student mobility | There are many types of agencies for international student ex-change programs | Agencies need to be adapted for online student mobility | Agencies will adapt more online courses or higher education programs |
| Variables | Past | Present | Future |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study abroad | It was a rising trend, globally. It was also seen as new job opportunities and a new life | There is a huge break in traditional studying abroad | It seems to be transformed into online study abroad maybe with short visits to the university, for example, for exams and some practical studies |
| Study at home country | It is known that students from developed countries prefer to study at home country in general. On the other side, students from developing countries or less developed countries generally prefer to study abroad | International students mostly have to return to their home. And new submissions were declined and most of students had to study at home | There is a great demand for study abroad that online international student mobility will be higher until the conditions are sufficient for physical student mobility |
| Online education | Online education is not the first preference for teaching in higher education | COVID-19 pandemic period made university management and teaching staff to transform into online education | The demand of the online education programs and systems is getting higher that the future will be hosted much more online courses and education globally |
| Hybrid education | Hybrid models that combine face-to-face and online education are challenging for academics, but provide an advantage for international students to continue their education | As the hybrid education system that started in the pandemic period develops, it will affect the university choices of the students in various periods in the future | In particular, the hybrid system will create the opportunity to spend some semesters face-to-face and some semesters online in the future, depending on the budgets of students |
| Working abroad | Working abroad was so popular for university students | Working abroad programs and options are all declined and reduced | Working abroad will not be as easy as past periods |
| Internship abroad | The support of internship abroad home country universities was an opportunity to test their adaptation skills | The pandemic also reduced opportunities for internship abroad, and students returned before completing their internship | The post-pandemic period can be an internship abroad for students who have difficulty deciding on studying abroad |
| Working at home country | Although their governments give scholarships to serve their country students from developing or less developed countries preferred to work abroad | Working conditions has been changed, students' hopes of finding a job in their home country also decreased | Under the pandemic conditions of countries, job sharing approaches to working from home will reveal a new group of students who work in countries and receive online international education |
| Internship at home country | Especially in applied professions, an internship in vocational education is required for graduation | Universities have explored the possibilities of graduating by making various reports for students who cannot complete their internships | Not having an internship in the future will create a deficiency for graduation. Maybe universities will try to provide some make-up internship opportunities for graduates |
| Agencies for student mobility | There are many types of agencies for international student ex-change programs | Agencies need to be adapted for online student mobility | Agencies will adapt more online courses or higher education programs |