International exchange activities at Osaka University in the Covid-19 Era : Practices and Challenges of Online International Student Recruiting

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  • コロナ新時代における国際交流活動の展開 : 大阪大学におけるオンライン留学生リクルートの実践と課題
  • コロナ　シンジダイ　ニ　オケル　コクサイ　コウリュウ　カツドウ　ノ　テンカイ　オオサカ　ダイガク　ニ　オケル　オンライン　リュウガクセイ　リクルート　ノ　ジッセン　ト　カダイ

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Abstract

COVID-19 disrupted international student mobility with border closures, lockdowns and severe restrictions on physical movement. However, surveys find that students are still interested in studying abroad. The pandemic situation in each country coupled with recent geopolitical tensions will inevitably influence international student mobility trend over the coming years. In this situation, we not only have to adapt our “traditional” international exchange practices but to use this situation proactively to improve our international student recruitment and engagement practices. In this paper, we present 1) how we shifted three existing methods of international student recruitment and engagement into online platform—Ryumon online application system, online study abroad information sessions and remote classroom for students at partner universities, 2) the challenges and benefits of utilizing these methods, and 3) how this practice helped us form a more holistic “online international student recruitment system”. Although there are challenges for each tool or platform, there are much more merits. For example, the online study abroad sessions that we adopted only due to COVID-19 restrictions helped us reach diverse participants without being bound by location, or involve alumni and faculty members in recruitment events. We hope the online and digital method will stay as an important part of international student recruitment and engagement work to enhance our internationalization efforts.

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