More International Students Choosing UWM

UW-Milwaukee is becoming a destination campus for international students, as the number of international students on campus has risen dramatically over recent years, driven in part by an influx of students from China, the largest group.

According to Jennifer Gruenewald, the Director of Student and Scholar Services, the top five international students UWM has received in recent years have been from China, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Iran and India. “There has been a 37 percent increase of international students since 2008,” Gruenewald said.

There are more than 1,100 international students from 80 countries at UWM, according to the university.

The Office of Assessment and Institutional Research has created a chart that follows international student enrollment during the fall. Between 2008 and 2013, both undergraduate and graduate students from Asia have increased at a rate of 108 students per year.

Previous media reports said it was former UWM Chancellor Mike Lovell’s idea to sign a preliminary recruitment agreement in Beijing which would allow Milwaukee companies to do business in China. The agreement with Chinese universities would have the potential to bring in 250 students, according to those reports, but that number has since been surpassed.

The biggest group currently from Asia is Chinese students. Susan Jost, the International Admissions Coordinator said that 350 Chinese students have been admitted to UWM, making them the largest group of international students on campus. India and Saudi Arabia are the second largest group. “The second two largest groups are from India and Saudi Arabia,” Jost said. “I’d say we have at least have over 100 of each of these groups.”

Camille Ridgeway not only works in the Center of International Education but is also an economics and international studies double major. Ridgeway receives the most UWM applications from Saudi Arabia and has also noticed international students enter specific career fields. “International students typically go for engineering of all types, biology, business or economics.

The goal of the Center for International Education is to help international students feel safe and able to easily adjust to not only school life but life in Milwaukee. “We are hoping that all students feel welcome,” Gruenewald said. “Some students have never seen snow before and are pleasantly surprised by Milwaukee.”

Jirapa Sorussa, an international and graduate student from Thailand, arrived to UWM after hearing about the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Not only did her best friend recommend UWM but her aunt and uncle live close by, making it easier to choose which school to attend. Sorussa was grateful for the English as a Second Language Program and met many friends along the way. “I joined the Thai Student Association and the ESL program really helped,” Sorussa said.  “It’s a better environment to be in.”

Professors in her home country recommended that Saori Kato, an international student from Nagoya, Japan, attend UWM. “My professor recommended this college to me because he felt I would study harder,” Kato said. Students from Japan have been steadily increasing since 2013, yielding a 70 percent of students enrolled in the UWM.

In 2010, UWM received four applications from Brazilian students. The enrollment for both undergraduate and graduate students from Brazil has increased at a rate of 10 students per year from 2010 to 2013 meaning a 17 percent increase.

To keep Brazilian students and studies active, UWM has been involved with the Science without Borders program. Students from Brazil are selected by the Brazilian government to attend UWM’s STEM field. STEM stands for study science, technology, engineering and mathematics and has an active role in providing Brazilian students with enough skills to utilize at home.

The Center of International Education provides international students with as much help as possible by encouraging them to join student clubs and organizations to providing them with the academic and language skills needed when they move back home.