Undergraduate student mobility on the rise

240 university counselors in 33 countries took part in an IE University survey designed to pinpoint the interests and preferences of the upcoming generation of university students with regard to study abroad and most popular degree programs.

International mobility has risen fast among young university students worldwide in recent years. This is one of the main findings of a study carried out last month by IE University, in which 240 counselors at international schools in 33 countries around the world took part. The aim of the report was to reveal the interests and preferences of the upcoming generation of university students in aspects like study abroad and preferred degree programs. The survey was linked to the IE University Junior Advisory Board Meeting held this past week at IE’s Madrid and Segovia Campuses, in which 15 students from 13 countries, aged from 16 to 18, met to talk to IE University about how they see their future in higher education.

With regard to study abroad, 70% of participating counselors have seen an increase in international mobility among students in recent years. There are variations in this trend depending on the world region. In India, for example, some 73% of counselors believe that more than 50% of their students will go abroad to study, while in the US, 71% of counselors thought that less than 20% of their students would leave the US to study. Overall, 47% percent of counselors stated that over half of their students were now considering studying their university degree abroad, which reflects the level of globalization in the labor market, the mutual recognition of titles among countries in the European Higher Education Space, and the international redistribution of employment as a result of growing and emerging economies. “Now, more than ever before, we are seeing an interesting flow of talent among host countries,” says Antonio de Castro.  Dean of Undergraduate Studies at IE University and coordinator of the survey. “Just like in the business world, students are considering the best options to link their university studies to their career expectations.”