Sign up

Have some pie!

US: 50% decline in intensive English program enrolments

Covid-19 has resulted in a 50% decline in international students attending US intensive English programs in 2020, new data from the Open Doors Report has revealed. 

Intensive English programs in the US have been resilient and adapted throughout the pandemic, according to IIE. Photo: Unsplash

In 2020, the US hosted 35.6% fewer IEP students from Saudi Arabia than in 2019

In 2020, there were just over 37,000 international students that studied for over half a million student weeks at US intensive English programs.

By contrast in 2019 there were just over 75,000 international students that studied for over a million student weeks.

“The external shock of Covid-19, however, has resulted in a 50% decline in international students attending the US intensive English programs,” said Julie Baer, research specialist at the Institute of International Education, speaking at NAFSA’s 2021 annual conference.

The Open Doors Report, produced by IIE with the support of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the US Department of State, is composed of information from four different surveys including the Intensive English Program survey.

“Covid-19 has impacted the entire English language industry globally”

New data from the IEP survey was released at the beginning of this month showing the decline. Students from China made up 24.5% of the total 37,365 IEP students in 2020 – a cohort that saw a 47% fall from the previous year. 

This was followed by 6,880 students from Saudi Arabia, 5,285 from Japan, 2,837 from Brazil and 2,682 from South Korea.

“It is important to note that Covid-19, however, has impacted the entire English language industry globally,” Baer continued.

Significant decline is not isolated to just the US, and reporting from colleagues and other leading host destinations for intensive English, declines have ranged from nearly 50% to over 80% over the past year.

English UK member schools reported an overrall 83.6% drop in 2020, Languages Canada down 56%, and English Australia a fall of 43.3% for new commencements.

“While these destinations may have used different definitions for how students were counted year over year, what is clear is that Covid-19 has been an external shock that has resulted in significant declines across the entire English language training market globally,” she added. 

The survey collects data from both colleges and universities, as well as independent providers throughout the US.

This year, due to Covid-19, researchers changed some of the definitions they used. They included students who were taking part in US based intensive English language programs, but were working remotely from their home countries. 

The data reflected the 2020 calendar year from January through to December, which means that it is reflective of the effects of Covid-19. 

Researchers asked how Covid-19 had specifically impacted programs, with some 90% reporting adverse impact. IIE found that a third of programs reported budget cuts, staff furloughs or layoffs and the need to combine classroom level.

“However, it is important to note that intensive English programs in the US have been resilient and adapted throughout the pandemic,” Baer explained.

Some 93% indicated that Covid-19 had resulted in investment or innovations within their programs, and 80% of programs noted increased virtual outreach and recruitment.

Baer also noted that, over time, there have been significant fluctuations in numbers of students, with periods of strong growth and decline over the past 40 years. 

“For example, there was an increase in IEP enrolment in the late 1990s that then fell after September 11. We then noted incredible growth in the 2010s that aligned with the large Saudi Arabian government scholarship program,” she said.  

“In recent years, enrolment in IEPs declined beginning in the 2016 calendar year”

“In recent years, enrolment in IEPs declined beginning in the 2016 calendar year, primarily due to changes in the governmental scholarship programs, along with increasing global competition, growing capacity for English training in students’ home countries, and the advent of edtech tools that can facilitate language training.”

However, IIE noted in the 2019 calendar year that the number of international IEP students fell by only about 4%, which was a decrease of fewer than 3,000 students. This had indicated a stabilisation of the IEP sector within the US.

Related articles

Still looking? Find by category:

Add your comment

One Response to US: 50% decline in intensive English program enrolments

  1. Canada IEPs boomed from 2012 until Covid due to new laws regulating iEPs in USA resulting from Obama-signed regulations. These regulations destroyed the industry in USA and created a mistrust in USA universities. The ‘cash cow’which once propped up budgets of various programs at US colleges and universities took a large hit mostly due to a misplaced law that exposed US universities incompetence and greed in handling these types of English training programs for foreign students. Unfortunately, the actions of US colleges and universities are to blame for the downfall of IEP programs in USA and the destruction of USA as a viable choice for international students. They have now chosen Canada, Australia and England instead of USA as their English provider and have naturally matriculated into other academic programs in those countries. It has been a profound loss for US education and international relations, Covid or not. What a mess our corrupt government has created in USA.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Disclaimer: All user contributions posted on this site are those of the user ONLY and NOT those of The PIE Ltd or its associated trademarks, websites and services. The PIE Ltd does not necessarily endorse, support, sanction, encourage, verify or agree with any comments, opinions or statements or other content provided by users.
PIENEWS

To receive The PIE Weekly with our top stories and insights, and other updates from us, please

SIGN UP HERE