According to the recently released annual Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, the number of international students at institutions of higher education in the United States increased by 10 percent to a record 974,926 students in the 2014/15 academic year.
The report also shows the number of Cambodians studying in the U.S. rising from 432 in 2013-2014 to 492 in 2014-2015, a significant increase of 14%.
“The latest Open Doors survey shows that it really is possible for English-speaking, academically qualified Cambodian students to achieve their goal of studying at U.S. colleges and universities,” says Jay Raman, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh. “The U.S. Embassy and our EducationUSA partners are here to help at every step along the way, from selecting a college to applying for scholarships and financial aid.”
EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State network of over 400 international student advising centers in more than 170 countries. These centers provide information about U.S.-based educational institutions and guidance to qualified individuals on seeking to apply to study in the United States. There are two advising centers in Phnom Penh – one at Pannasastra University of Cambodia (PUC) and another at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP). Another resource that the U.S. Embassy offers for Cambodians interested in studying in the U.S. is the American Corner. With locations in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang and Kampong Cham, each American Corner features a diverse collection of English language books and resources, student advising materials, links to university and scholarship websites, test preparation materials, and student visa information.
The 10 percent increase in the number of international students in the United States represents the highest rate of growth in 35 years. Increases were reported in 44 states. International students’ spending in all 50 states contributed more than $30 billion to the U.S. economy in 2014, an increase of more than $3 billion since 2013. Latin America & the Caribbean was the fastest growing region of origin for international students in the United States, but substantial growth was also seen from Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
The release of the Open Doors Report occurs during International Education Week, which celebrates and promotes the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. The week is co-hosted by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education.
For more information about this year’s Open Doors Report and International Education Week, please contact ECA Press at ECA-Press@state.gov or (202) 632-6452, or visit http://eca.state.gov/impact/open-doors-reports and http://eca.state.gov/programs-initiatives/international-education-week/.
For more details about EducationUSA and American Corners in Cambodia, please visit Education Advising Center and American Corners in Cambodia.
