DUSHANBE, November 15, 2010, Asia-Plus — During the 2009-10 academic year, 288 Tajikistani students enrolled in U.S. institutions of higher education, according to Open Doors 2010, the annual report on international academic mobility published by the Institute of International Education (IIE) with support from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, according to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe.
The number of Tajikistani students enrolled in graduate programs in the United States increased by 17% compared to the previous year, and Tajikistanis enrolled in undergraduate programs increased by 11%. The number of students enrolled in non-degree programs decreased by 70%.
This year’s Open Doors report shows that the total number of international students at colleges and universities in the United States increased by 3% to 690,923 during the 2009-10 academic year. This is a record high number of international students in the United States. This year’s growth was driven by a 30% increase in Chinese student enrollment to a total of nearly 128,000 students, or more than 18% of the total international student population, making China the leading sending country. Students from India increased by 2% to a total of nearly 105,000. Indian students represent 15% of all international students in U.S. higher education institutions.
According to EducationUSA Regional Director Amy McGoldrick, “The United States remains a preferred destination for students from Tajikistan because of the quality and prestige associated with an American degree. Another contributing factor is greater access to comprehensive and accurate information about study in the United States through EducationUSA advising offices in Tajikistan.”
U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Ken Gross noted that, “Engagement between U.S. and Tajikistani students in American classrooms gives all the students valuable skills that will help them work together across cultures and borders to address global challenges in the years ahead. We”re very pleased to see more students from Tajikistan in U.S. universities.”
EducationUSA centers in Tajikistan actively promote U.S. higher education by offering free, accurate, unbiased, comprehensive, objective and timely information about educational institutions in the United States and guidance to qualified individuals on how best to access those opportunities.
