Tracking the internationalisation goals for 10 leading destinations

The following article is adapted from the 2025 edition of ICEF Insights magazine, which is freely available to download now.

Ask 10 people working in our industry what “internationalisation” means, and you’ll get 10 answers. For some, it simply means attracting a certain volume of foreign students to a campus. For others, the goal is broader: programmes, campus, and partnerships are designed to have a global flavour.

At the government level, the concept of internationalisation changes over time and according to considerations that include foreign enrolment growth rates, labour market gaps, demographics, geo-politics, domestic politics, and the need to participate in global science or research projects.

The official international education strategies highlighted below emphasise the great extent to which foreign students figure into larger narratives around globalisation, security, and soft power. As those narratives evolve, so too do the strategies.

Australia

Strategy for International Education 2021–2030

Priorities

• Pursue sustainable growth1
• Diversify student nationalities
• Meet national skills needs
• Enhance student experience
• Improve global competitiveness

International enrolment goal

Australia is implementing an effective cap on the number of new students beginning in 2025.

Target markets

Not specified.

International student population (2023)

786,900 (+27% y-o-y)

Canada

International Education Strategy 2019–2024 (now expired; an updated strategy is pending)

Priorities

• Encourage Canadian students to go abroad, especially to Asia
• Diversify (source countries and students’ fields, levels of study, and locations of study within Canada)
• Increase support for Canadian educators
• Increase scrutiny and regulation of agents
• Invest more in digital marketing

International enrolment goal

No stated goal currently. Rather, the national government introduced a cap on new study permits for 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Target markets

Brazil, Colombia, France, Indonesia, Mexico, Morocco, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam.

International student population (2023)

1,041,000 (+29% y-o-y)

France

Bienvenue en France

Priorities

• Diversify beyond Africa
• Triple scholarships
• Simplify visa processes
• Make it easier for students to find housing
• Increase French campuses/partnerships abroad

International enrolment goal

500,000 international students by 2027.

Target markets

Expand recruiting outside Africa.

International student population (2023)

430,500 (+5% y-o-y)

Germany

Strategy 2025

Priorities

• Make Germany a top five study abroad destination
• Increase academic success of international students
• Increase share of international academics at German universities to 15%
• Encourage German students to study abroad
• Invest in more collaboration with foreign institutions

International enrolment goal

350,000 international students by 2020 – met in 2021.

Target markets

Not specified.

International student population (2023)

367,600 (+5% y-o-y)

Ireland

Global Citizens 2030

Priorities

• Attract the highest quality students and researchers
• Adopt a “moderate” growth strategy of about 10%
• Position Ireland as a thought leader in talent, innovation, and science policy in “small advanced economies”
• Enhance student experience
• Measure impact of international students beyond enrolments and economic value

International enrolment goal

15% of overall student population by 2025 – nearly met (international students now compose 14% of overall student population).

Target markets

Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, Africa, South America

International student population (2023)

35,100 (+11% y-o-y)

Japan

Council for the Creation of Future Education Goals

Priorities

• Improve learning environments to attract promising foreign students
• Send 500,000 Japanese students abroad by 2033
• Develop a multinational labour market
• Make it easier for foreign graduates of top 100 universities to immigrate
• Streamline visa processes

International enrolment goal

400,000 by 2033.

Target markets

Not specified.

International student population (2023)

279,300 (+21% y-o-y)

Malaysia

Education Blueprint 2015–2025

Priorities

• Claim position as an international education hub with a difference: values-driven and globally relevant education
• Provide rich cultural experiences, balance of quality and affordability, and good quality of life
• Reach new markets through innovative programmes and partnerships
• Improve and streamline visa and immigration processes
• Communicate niche strengths in academic and research expertise (e.g., Islamic banking and finance, and tropical-related science and technology)

International enrolment goal

250,000 by 2025.

Target markets

Iran, East Africa, China, India, Indonesia.

International student population (2023)

Over 170,000 (+30% over 2021)

South Korea

Study Korea 300K Project

Priorities

• Expand scholarships for STEM students
• Stimulate economy through foreign talent
• Enhance global competitiveness of domestic universities and high-tech companies
• Become a top 10 “study abroad powerhouse”
• Increase Korea’s share of the global study abroad market from 2% to 3%

International enrolment goal

300,000 by 2027.

Target markets

China, Vietnam, Poland, UAE, India, Pakistan.

International student population (2023)

207,100 (+24% y-o-y)

New Zealand

International Education Strategy 2022–2030

Priorities

• Diversify sending markets and products, services, and modes of delivery
• Spread out international enrolments across regions
• Prioritise student well-being and excellence of education
• Commit to a sustainable sector that brings economic, social, and cultural benefits to the whole country
• Retain talented international graduates

International enrolment goal

None specified.

Target markets

China, India, and intent to diversify further.

International student population (2023)

69,100 (+67% y-o-y)

United Kingdom

International Education Strategy to 2030 (2023 Progress Update)

Priorities

• Increase education exports to £35 billion per year by 2030
• Host 600,000 international students per year
• Expand transnational education
• Collect accurate and coherent data for the sector
• Improve visa processes for students, including increased personalisation

International enrolment goal

600,000 by 2030 – met in 2020.

Target markets

China, Hong Kong, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

International student population (2023)

758,855 (+12% y-o-y)