美国国家政策基金会-阻止中国研究生进入美国大学可能对美国的创新和科学研究造成重大打击-16页_383kb

Summary of International Students in Science and Engineering

Core Content

International students play a vital role in the U.S. higher education system, particularly in science and engineering fields. They are a critical source of talent and innovation, contributing significantly to research, faculty retention, and the overall academic and economic landscape of U.S. universities.

Main Points

• Talent Contribution: International students fill a major gap in high-level technical talent, especially in fields like computer and information sciences, electrical engineering, and other STEM disciplines. Without them, the number of U.S. graduate students in these fields would be insufficient to meet the demands of the U.S. economy.

• Graduate Student Numbers (2019):

  • Electrical Engineering: 9,083 U.S. graduate students vs. 26,343 international students.
  • Computer and Information Sciences: 17,334 U.S. graduate students vs. 44,786 international students.
  • Majority in Programs: In many fields, international students constitute the majority of full-time graduate students. For example, in electrical engineering, 74% of full-time graduate students are international; in computer and information sciences, 72%.

• Decline in International Students:

  • The number of full-time international graduate students in electrical engineering dropped by 19.5% between 2015 and 2019.
  • In computer and information sciences, the decline was 9.5% between 2016 and 2019, before the Trump administration's policies and the impact of the pandemic.

• Importance for Research and Teaching:

  • International students are essential for maintaining graduate programs and supporting research at U.S. universities.
  • Faculty rely on international students for research and teaching, as they provide the expertise and diversity needed to sustain academic programs.
  • Postdocs, who are often foreign nationals, are crucial to research activities. In 2019, 56% of postdocs at U.S. universities were on temporary visas, with high percentages in fields like electrical engineering, computer science, and physics.

• Policy Impact:

  • The Trump administration's May 2020 proclamation (PP10043) blocked visas for Chinese graduate students based on their universities in China, not individual risk.
  • This policy is likely to block 3,000 to 5,000 Chinese graduate students annually, leading to significant economic and research losses.

• Economic Impact:

  • Losing 1,000 Ph.D. students annually could result in a loss of $210 billion in expected patent value over 10 years and nearly $1 billion in lost tuition.
  • International students also contribute to the broader U.S. economy through innovation, patents, and research advancements.

• Support for Domestic Students:

  • International students do not displace U.S. students but rather support the growth and sustainability of graduate programs.
  • Research by economist Kevin Shih found that international students increase domestic enrollment, not reduce it.

• Postdoc Statistics (2019):

  • Over 36,795 postdocs were working in U.S. science and engineering graduate departments.
  • Of these, 56% were on temporary visas, with significant numbers in computer and information sciences (43%), electrical engineering (73%), and physics (65.6%).

Key Information

• Fields with High International Student Participation:

  • Petroleum Engineering: 82%
  • Electrical Engineering: 74%
  • Computer and Information Sciences: 72%
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering: 71%
  • Statistics: 70%
  • Economics: 67%
  • Civil Engineering: 61%
  • Mechanical Engineering: 58%
  • Chemical Engineering: 54%
  • Metallurgical and Materials Engineering: 53%
  • Materials Sciences: 52%
  • Pharmaceutical Sciences: 50%

• University Examples:

  • Electrical Engineering: 88% of U.S. graduate programs with at least 30 students have a majority of international students.
  • Computer and Information Sciences: 78% of U.S. graduate programs with at least 30 students have a majority of international students.
  • Texas A&M: 88% of full-time graduate students in electrical engineering are international.
  • Carnegie Mellon University: 78% of full-time graduate students in computer and information sciences are international.

• Policy Recommendations:

  • To preserve America's role as a global innovation hub, it is essential to maintain reasonable visa policies for international students.
  • Supporting post-graduation employment through STEM OPT and H-1B visas, as well as improving employment-based green cards, is crucial.

• Global Competition:

  • The U.S. faces intense global competition for international students and skilled researchers.
  • Restrictive policies may weaken the U.S. position in attracting top talent, impacting future innovation and scientific research.

Conclusion

International students are indispensable to the U.S. academic and research ecosystem. Their contributions extend beyond enrollment to include research, innovation, and faculty retention. Policies that restrict their access can have far-reaching negative consequences for U.S. universities and the broader economy. Maintaining open and supportive policies is essential to ensure continued leadership in science and engineering.