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.

COVID19 has caused significant economic, social and religious disruption. It has, however, united governments to focus on the need to identify and limit the impact of COVID19, and to review their fiscal strategies in order to protect and sustain their economies. Consequently, social distancing measures have been imposed. These have taken the form of travel restrictions, border controls, closure of all organisations where uncontrolled human interactions take place (malls, learning institutions, religious gatherings), curfews and total lockdown.