We'll take them!

Trump is threatening one of the US's key strengths. And Australia could pick up the slack.

International students are turning away from the US
One of the US's key exports and competitive advantages - education - may be under threat.

International student enrolments in the US had trended upwards for a long time, with the exception of a temporary dip following 9-11. But new data has shown enrolments recently fell almost 4% from 840,160 to 808,640 - with almost half of this decline coming from a fall in Indian students in science and engineering.

And Trump's Muslim ban and attempts to halve legal immigration are likely culprits, with two of the top reasons reported for the drop being "feeling unwelcome in the United States" and visa issues. Trump also wants to take away the ability of spouses to work while waiting for green cards, and pass a new rule that makes it harder for international students to work in the US in the months after they graduate. He is also reportedly considering restrictions on Chinese visas.

To be fair, there are other reasons international students may be turning away from the US - mass shootings, reports of campus rape, even the recent devaluation of the Indian currency.

But all of this bodes poorly for one of the US's key economic advantages.

Welcome to the Land Down Under!
Maybe this fall in the US is something upon which Victoria (and Australia more generally) can capitalise. Education is already Australia's third largest export. And Victoria, Australia's 'education state', lost a significant share of Indian students following the GFC (as I wrote about here).

Chinese students are also the most significant share of Victoria's international students (over 30%) - an advantage upon which we may be able to build in light of the US's less than welcoming persona.

It used to be that "when the US sneezes, Australia catches a cold". But in this case, the US is sneezing and Australia might have all the Codral.