Polly Nash

This year’s annual NAFSA Conference heard many discussions about the relative decline of traditional study destinations amid rising popularity of countries in Europe and Asia. The launch of a new report from Keystone Education Group, based on more than 67,000 prospective students from 150 countries, confirmed the trend, revealing the relative decline of the ‘big four’ destinations, with the largest drops seen in the US.

In its latest retreat from the world’s fastest growing continent, the US is set to close nearly 30 embassies across Africa. The US State Department will slash the number of visa processing embassies and consulates in Africa from nearly 50 to 20 in the coming weeks, an internal memo obtained by the Associated Press has revealed. Given Trump’s existing travel ban impacting 29 African nations, the plans were not met with shock among international educators, though they condemned its shortsightedness.

While sector headlines are dominated by the anticipated chaos of DHS’s incoming final rule on duration of status, some experts have welcomed greater restrictions on student transfers. Could the incoming final rule on Duration of Status have any positive impact? ApplyBoard chief commercial officer Steven Sintra shares his take.