This volume examines international student enrollment from multiple perspectives across the globe. Contributors explore how digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and new marketing strategies are reshaping recruitment and engagement, while also addressing the cultural, political, and social factors that influence the international student experience. The book includes case studies from the United States, Latin America, Asia, and Africa, showcasing the interplay between technology, policy, and student success.
Readers will find discussions that range from the role of English language programs in soft diplomacy to the impact of creative economies in Indonesia, from Japanese enrollment rebounds to the challenges faced by Mexican and Brazilian students, and from the promises of AI in higher education to the dilemmas of fostering democracy and inclusion in classrooms and research. Together, these contributions illustrate the complex realities of international student enrollment today and provide actionable insights for educators, policymakers, and institutional leaders seeking to build inclusive, resilient, and globally connected campuses.
Editors: Clay Harmon and Krishna Bista
OPEN ACCESS BOOK | CC BY-NC-ND Open access editions of this book can be accessed here . The open access edition of this book is freely available to readers worldwide and may be accessed, downloaded, and shared without charge through the publisher’s website and scholarly discovery platforms.
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Contents Introduction: Framing the Future of International Student Enrollment
Chapter 1: Beyond Politics: The Role of Inclusion in U.S. Higher Education for International Student Success Chapter 2: What International Students Want and What They Actually Get: Bridging Expectations with Outcomes Chapter 3: English Language Programs as Facilitators of Soft Diplomacy Chapter 4: AI-Driven, Human-Led: The New Rules of SEO Applied to Higher Education Chapter 5: Sustainable Disruption: AI and Digital Transformation Chapter 6: Transforming the Impact of AI in India: Emerging Trends in Student Enrollment and Engagement Chapter 7: Navigating Cultural Transitions: Unfolding the Acculturation Puzzle of International Students Chapter 8: Rebounding Japanese Student Enrollment in U.S. Education: Successes and Strategies Chapter 9: Mexican International Students and the Impact of Contemporary U.S. Political Shifts Chapter 10: Leveraging Digital Transformation for International Student Enrollment Growth in Ghana Chapter 11: Empowering Indonesian Students in the Creative Economy: Strategic Insights for a Competitive Future Chapter 12: Democracy in Practice: Challenges from Teaching, Research, and Student Inclusion in Brazil Chapter 13: Emerging Trends and Adaptive Strategies in International Student Enrollment: Regional Insights and Institutional Responses Chapter 14: From Home to Host: Challenges and Resilience in Cross-Cultural Transition
This scholarly volume examines the shifting dynamics of international student enrollment within an increasingly complex global higher education. Drawing on contributions from experienced practitioners and researchers, this work addresses critical themes, including international branch campuses, transnational education models, data-informed decision-making, student success, and institutional transformation. Through evidence-based analysis and case studies from diverse contexts, the book offers actionable strategies for fostering ethical, inclusive, and sustainable enrollment management practices. It serves as an essential reference for higher education leaders, enrollment professionals, and policymakers committed to advancing global engagement in a time of rapid change.
Editors Clay Harmon and Krishna Bista
OPEN ACCESS BOOK | CC BY-NC-ND Open access editions of this book can be accessed here. The open access edition of this book is freely available to readers worldwide and may be accessed, downloaded, and shared without charge through the publisher’s website and scholarly discovery platforms.
Order Print Copies: Hardcover | Paperback | Open Access Book (free)
A compelling framework that transforms international enrollment from a complex challenge into a strategic opportunity for global academic excellence. Thomas Tinnefeld, PhD Professor of Applied Languages, Saarland University of Applied Sciences, Germany A valuable resource for higher education administrators and scholars. John D Branch, PhD, EdD Professor of Business Administration, University of Michigan, USA An essential resource offering innovative strategies and crucial insights for education leaders navigating international enrollment in today's rapidly evolving global landscape. Chunipha Poedloknimit, PhD Lecturer, Department of Public Administration, Western University, Thailand A rich collection of perspectives that deepens our understanding of how to create supportive and globally connected learning environments for international students. Lu Lu, PhD Beijing Language and Culture University, China In a rapidly changing world, Navigating the Future of International Enrollment offers both clarity and vision for building more inclusive, resilient, and globally engaged campuses. Drawing on diverse voices and practical experience, it inspires educators and policymakers to reimagine internationalization for the future. Thatcher A. Spero, PhD Professor of Education, Musashino University, Japan
With clarity and vision, the authors provide timely strategies that will guide institutions in navigating the evolving global enrollment landscape and highlight the central role of student success and well-being. Praveen Kumar Rudra, PhD Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska at Omaha, NE, USA
A thought-provoking volume that empowers education leaders to embrace diversity and innovation in global enrollment strategies. Sirirat Na Ranong, PhD, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Thammasat University, Thailand
Contents
Introduction
Navigating the Future of International Enrollment Management
Chapter 1
Rethinking International Enrollment Management: Looking Inward to Support a Global Perspective
Chapter 2
International Branch Campuses and U.S. Universities: Global Enrollment Opportunities in a Changing World
Chapter 3
Transforming Business Education: A Management Information System as a Major in STEM to Attract International Talent
Chapter 4
A World Unbound: The Fusion of Trends Redefining International Education
Chapter 5
Using Data Wisely for International Enrollment Management
Chapter 6
From Home to Host: Challenges and Resilience in Cross-Cultural Transition
Chapter 7
Managing International Academic Collaboration in a Turbulent World: Swedish Perspectives
Chapter 8
Intentional Enrollment Management: A Scalable Approach to Student Success and Institutional Transformation
Chapter 9
A Niche in Transnational Higher Education: The Microcampus Model of the University of Arizona
Chapter 10
From Recruitment to Graduation: A Comprehensive Approach to International Enrollment Management
Vanishing Voices: The Future of Language Learning in Education Abroad examines one of the most pressing questions facing international education today: What happens when students study abroad without learning the language of the communities that host them? As foreign language enrollments decline and education abroad increasingly shifts toward English-taught, short-term programming, this volume explores the implications for intercultural learning, student engagement, and global understanding. Drawing on research, professional practice, and lived experience, the contributors examine the historical, institutional, and technological forces reshaping language learning in education abroad.
Bringing together leading scholars and practitioners, Vanishing Voices explores the causes and consequences of declining language study, the opportunities and limitations of artificial intelligence, innovative approaches to program design, and the powerful ways language shapes identity, belonging, and intercultural understanding. Grounded in student stories, the volume argues that language remains far more than a tool for communication—it is a gateway to deeper cultural understanding, meaningful engagement, and transformative learning. Essential reading for international educators, faculty, administrators, and researchers, Vanishing Voices challenges readers to reconsider the role of language in preparing students to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.
Bibliographic Information Publisher: STAR Scholars Press Publication Date: June 6, 2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/vvwm3p20 Hardcover ISBN: 979-8-89524-070-0 eBook ISBN: 979-8-89524-071-7 Library of Congress Control Number: 2026944756
Contributing Editors
María Teresa Alonso, Ph.D., is the Founder and President of the Spanish Institute for Global Education, and she has been a professor of Anthropology at the University of Seville and Vice Dean of the School of Education at the Loyola Andalusia University. Her major research interests include language learning, teacher training, and innovative methodology.
Anthony C. Ogden, Ph.D., is the Founder and Managing Director of Gateway International Group, a consultancy specializing in international higher education. He is a respected educator with over 25 years of experience and has held senior leadership roles at Pennsylvania State University, the University of Kentucky, Michigan State University, and the University of Wyoming. With more than 60 publications, Dr. Ogden is also a prolific author whose work demonstrates his expertise and influence in international higher education.
Heidi M. Soneson, Ph.D. , has worked in international education since 1983, holding leadership roles at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and the University of Minnesota. She has led institution-wide initiatives in international student services and education abroad, served in leadership positions with NAFSA and The Forum on Education Abroad, and published extensively on education abroad policy and practice.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ..... i The Pillars of Hercules ..... ii Introduction of the Spanish Institute for Global Education ...... 1 Introduction Vanishing Voices: The Future of Language Learning in Education Abroad ..... 15
SECTION ONE Historical Foundations and Shifting Contexts of Language Learning
Engagement in Practice: Immersion, Independence, and Language Learning ..... 23 Chapter 1: Language Learning in U.S. Higher Education: Trends and Tensions ......27 Chapter 2: Language Learning in U.S. Education Abroad: Shifting Realities and Institutional Responses ....... 37
SECTION TWO Artificial Intelligence and Language Learning
Engagement in Practice: Technology, Mediation, and Language in an AI-Enabled World ..... 49 Chapter 3: The Introduction of AI and Its Broader Impact on Higher Education..... 53 Chapter 4: Harnessing AI to Enhance Language Learning: Vocabulary Acquisition, Pre-Departure Preparation, and In-Country Engagement.....63
SECTION THREE Program Modalities and Curricular Strategies for Language Integration
Engagement in Practice: Program Design, Structured Learning, and Language Integration ..... 77 Chapter 5: Integrating Language through Program Design and Curricular Innovation ...... 81 Chapter 6: Redesigning Advising, Orientation and Co-Curricular Learning .....95
SECTION FOUR Language and Identity in Education Abroad
Engagement in Practice: Identity, Belonging, and the Personal Dimensions of Language ...... 109 Chapter 7: Language, Power and the Dynamics of Belonging ..... 113 Chapter 8: Language, Emotion and Vulnerability of Learning Abroad ..... 123 Partnerships in Practice: Community Engagement and Internships ...... 135
Contributing Editors ..... 141 Contributing Authors ..... 142
Contributing Authors
David Becerra Alonso, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at Universidad Loyola, Andalucía, Spain, and collaborates with the AYRNA research group at the University of Córdoba.
Carlos Aguasaco, Ph.D., is a Professor of Latin American Cultural Studies and Chair of the Department of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences of City College of the City University of New York (CUNY).
Giselda Beaudin, M.A., is the Executive Director of Global Initiatives at Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida.
Dan P. Dewey, Ph.D., is a Professor of Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition and Department Chair of Linguistics at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
James Eckler, M.Arch, M.Sc., is a Professor of Architecture, Academic Vice President and Dean of Reap College of Creative and Professional Studies at Marywood University, Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Timothy Lynn Elliott, Ph.D., is the Director of the Office of International Study Programs at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
Chrissie Faupel, Ph.D., is the Director of International Affairs at the University of Minnesota Duluth. An active member of NAFSA and AIEA, she contributes regularly to the advancement of the international education field.
Bethany Galipeau-Konate, MBA, D.Prof. is the Executive Director of Global Education at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia.
Erin Hillis, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the Buckman Center for Global Engagement and a senior international officer at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.
Christina Isabelli, Ph.D., is a Professor of Spanish Linguistics and Associate Provost for Global Engagement at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.
Megan Jones, Ph.D., is the Director of the Center for Global Education at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.
Dana Lindaman, Ph.D., is the Department Head of World Language and Cultures at the University of Minnesota Duluth and Associate Professor of French Studies.
Myriam Monterrubio is a certified English teacher and consultant in Seville, Spain. She is the co-author of five English-language series for kindergarten students and the creator of Talkies-Based Learning (TBL).
Kate Moore, Ed.D., is the Principal and Founder of the Global Career Center in Boston, Massachusetts. She authored the NAFSA book, Internships, Service-Learning and Research Abroad and was lead contributor for the chapter “Program Types: A Matrix for Cross-sectional Analysis” within Education Abroad: Bridging Scholarship and Practice.
Marcia Morgan, Ph.D., is Dean of Global Education and Professor of Philosophy at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania. She teaches courses on ethics, social-political thought, law and morality, and organizational leadership.
Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D., is Associate Professor in the Department of Marketing in the Stillman School of Business, Dean of Continuing Education & Professional Studies, and Associate Provost for Partnerships & Global Initiatives at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey.
Jessica A. Quintana Hess, Ms.Ed., is the Assistant Dean of Global Initiatives & Programs at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Sarita Rai, Ph.D., is the Director and a faculty member at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa (UHM) Study Abroad Center.
Jennifer Rathbun, Ph.D., is a poet and translator, Professor of Spanish, Chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, and Chair of the Department of Philosophy at Ball State University, in Muncie, Indiana.
Mary Alice Soriero, MS.Ed, is Director of Academic Affairs at the CEA CAPA Education Abroad, Seville, Spain Center and Adjunct Professor at Loyola University Andalucia.
Leah Spinosa De Vega, M.A . is the Executive Director of Global Initiatives at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her research interests include language and intercultural agility in therapeutic relationships.
Therese Tardio, Ph.D., is a Teaching Professor of Hispanic Studies and Director of the Humanities Scholars Program at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Christina Marie Villarreal, Ph.D., is Director of University Partnerships and Development at the Spanish Institute for Global Education in Seville, Spain.