HANOI, November 18, 2022 – According to the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) annual “Open Doors” Report, Vietnamese students now constitute the fifth largest group of foreign students in the United States – up from sixth last year. Moreover, Vietnam maintains as the second leading country of origin for international students studying at U.S. community colleges. Vietnamese students studying in the United States increased across almost all levels of study: graduate programs + 6.5 percent, non-degree programs + 23.3 percent, Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs + 4.4 percent. When assessed on a basis of overall economy size and measured through GDP output, the data indicates that Vietnam now sends more students to the United States than any other country. Vietnamese students also continue to demonstrate a strong footing in strategically important subjects across U.S. institutions such as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and business/management studies. The percentage of Vietnamese students pursuing STEM and business/management majors are 47.1 percent and 25.6 percent respectively.
“As the United States approaches the 10th Anniversary of U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership, the Open Doors data is demonstrable proof that education remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship, while the nature of our current educational cooperation is already strategic .” said Genevieve Judson-Jourdain, U.S. Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer.
In the United States for academic year 2021/2022, new international student enrollment rebounded and increased 80percent, with the total number of international students enrolled in U.S. institutions up 4percent overall. The increase was felt across the United States with all U.S. states experiencing growth in new enrollment and 44 of the 50 states experiencing an increase in new enrollment of over 50 percent. The United States remains the top destination for international students with over 948,000 international students overall.
Education cooperation is a key indicator of the strategic nature of a bilateral relationship. The U.S. Mission to Vietnam is committed to deepening our education cooperation through enhanced linkages and dual programs between American and Vietnamese institutions, facilitating joint research, and increasing opportunities for Vietnamese and American students, faculty, administrators, and staff to have meaningful exchanges.