COVID-19 Pandemic and International Students Abroad

Written by Dr. Mercy M. Mugambi

International students’ enrollment in higher education abroad has expanded considerably in the last decades. Emigration for tertiary education is becoming more common, particularly among students from developing countries. International students study at thousands of colleges and universities abroad. They contribute to the diversity and internationalization of their classrooms, campuses, and communities. For example, these students add different perspectives in the classrooms and enhance the mutual understanding and appreciation of the differences found around the world. Secondly, international students constitute an increasingly relevant and important source of diversity on college campuses. They enrich the cultural diversity of campuses with their home culture and ethnic experiences. The also represent a large economic and international relations investment for universities abroad.

In January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of a new coronavirus disease, COVID-19, to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. WHO reported that there was a high risk of COVID-19 spreading to other countries around the world. In March 2020, WHO assessed that COVID-19 qualified to be referred to as a pandemic. According to WHO,

“Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).”

The pandemic unquestionably presents an era-defining challenge to public health and the global economy. Its political, economic, and social consequences, both short- and long-term, are not well understood. The global outbreak has the potential to wreak havoc, trigger widespread unrest and severely disrupt international crisis management systems. Efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19 through non-pharmaceutical interventions and preventive measures such as social-distancing and self-isolation have prompted the widespread closure of learning institutions.

COVID-19, the infectious disease associated with the new strain of coronavirus, is claiming lives and bringing countries to a halt. The world is realizing the need to quickly adapt new ways of living, new ways of learning, and new ways of work. To reduce the spread of coronavirus, many universities have suspended any on-campus activities like lectures. Exams and thesis defenses may be postponed or held in different formats, which may delay the award of degrees. Educators and students around the world are feeling the extraordinary ripple effect of the novel coronavirus as institutions shut down amid the public health emergency. Foreign students in the UK are fleeing the country. According to UNICEF monitoring, 177 countries are currently implementing nationwide closures with others implementing local closures, impacting about 73.5 percent of the world’s student population.

Life has changed drastically for almost every college student, including those enrolled as international students in various universities. Since the onset of covid19, international students have been living with the daily reality of COVID-19 with the crisis generating stress throughout the population. International students are not only concerned that their studies will be interrupted but also that they could become infected with COVID-19. In addition, students are worried about being unable to return to their home countries due to the travel bans. When facing crises, people tend to look for support from their families. But international students’ families are thousands of miles away and in different time zones.

Given all these concerns, it is not surprising that a number of international students experience mental health issues. It is important that sufficient and readily accessible mental health services be established for them. In response to the pandemic, Universities and colleges are closed; job appointments are called off; visa processing is suspended; while the international situation of the COVID- 19 infections continues to intensify.

International students have seen their future plans thrown into uncertainty and as the pandemic may not end any time soon, it is not known when the situation is going to get better. In some countries as the pandemic ravages on, it has bought out people’s fears of others resulting to discrimination. Given that the social landscape of human assistance is critical with the onset of COVID-19, there is need for emotional support, financial or tangible assistance. COVID-19 is not just a health issue; it can also be a virus that exacerbates xenophobia, hate and exclusion.

In a study of international students’ security consisting of 200 intensive interviews with students in Australia, it was found that two thirds of the group had experienced problems of loneliness and/or isolation. Students experienced three forms of loneliness: personal loneliness because of the loss of contact with families; social loneliness because of the loss of networks, and cultural loneliness, triggered by the absence of the preferred cultural and/or linguistic environment.

Effect of the pandemic on programmes and students

The COVID-19 pandemic has already, or is likely to affect educational programmes and students in many ways:

• Postponement of programmes.
• A move from onsite to online meetings, conferences, and other events are becoming more relevant as COVID-19 spreads and obliges people to respect social distancing rules. Students and lecturers are turning to interactive platforms and innovative tools to enhance their online learning experience. This move is in line with UNESCO recommendation on the use of distance learning programmes and open educational applications and platforms by learning institutions to reach learners remotely and limit the disruption of education.
• Suspension of examinations for example Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) released a statement announcing the cancellation of Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge O Level, Cambridge International AS & A Level, Cambridge AICE Diploma, and Cambridge Pre-U examinations for the May/June 2020 series across all countries; International Baccalaureate exams have also been cancelled. In addition, Advanced Placement Exams, SAT administrations, and ACT administrations have been moved online and canceled.
• Delay in start of classes or new admissions, for example in Germany, winter semester has been moved to start later in the year. Restrictions on immigration by countries are already restricting entry at their borders, and only nationals or permanent residents are allowed in unless there are important reasons.
• Extended deadlines for admissions- In the US, May 1 is typically known as the deadline for high school students to decide which college they will attend. However, many colleges and universities are relaxing their admissions policies to support students and families that have been financially impacted by the virus.
• The financial impact of the pandemic is being felt now by higher education institutions around the world. As the pandemic continues, the effects are mounting in terms of both immediate budget impacts and forecasts for the coming year.
• Adjusted entry requirements- In a bid to attract international students, some universities have suggested the potential lowering of language entry requirements.
• Visa issuing has been suspended due to the pandemic; no students can currently acquire a visa for the upcoming academic year in the United States.
• Despite the WHO’s pleas for unity, the pandemic is taking on a discriminative hue with reports indicating students’ struggle with mental health, loneliness, and harassment in some universities.
• International students in Minnesota face uncertainty amid work authorization slowdown.
• Due to economic uncertainty caused by the virus, many companies have frozen hiring for Optional Practical Training (OPT) for graduate students.
• International students are facing the unique burden of social distancing while thousands of miles from home. To many, the circumstances are even more challenging amid a pandemic that has exacerbated already-existing xenophobia and discrimination.
• A survey carried out by the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) among third-level and English language students about their well being during COVID-19 established that many international students are experiencing overcrowded living situations with many having lost their jobs and also unable to access the Pandemic Unemployment Payment or job seekers payments since they cannot access a Personal Public Service (PPS) number.
• In Ireland, there have been some isolated reports of racist incidents specifically referring to COVID-19.
• Loss of housing, for example, when colleges and universities decide to evacuate their campuses.
• Employment options for international students are limited by law, and many of the campus jobs normally available to them may have been frozen when campuses shut down. Their eligibility for financial aid is even more limited. Their families may suddenly be unable to provide funds the students have been counting on. In a worst-case scenario, students may have fallen ill and need support while they recover.

Globally, COVID-19 has thrown education sector into disarray and posing challenging time to students. What is the situation for international students in universities in Africa?

Dr. Mercy M. Mugambi is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education, University of Nairobi and a Curriculum specialist. Contacts: email: mercy.mugambi@uonbi.ac.ke

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of the University of Nairobi.