U of A Student Recruiter Speaks about International Recruitment Strategies in Moscow

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Karl Anderson

Karl Anderson, assistant director for international student recruitment at the University of Arkansas, recently spoke at the Forum on International Education in Moscow. Forum sessions centered around the themes of trends in global higher education and international student recruitment strategies.

Anderson spoke about the strategy and tactics of entering a local educational market. He was one of only two representatives from an American university invited to speak at the conference.

"It was an honor to speak at the Forum on International Education and represent the University of Arkansas while there," Anderson said. "Forging and maintaining relationships with partners across the globe is a key aspect of recruiting some of the nation's top international prospects to our campus."

While in Russia, Anderson also visited with EducationUSA advisers in Moscow and St. Petersburg. EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State network of international student advising centers.

The University of Arkansas has a strong international student population. More than 1,460 international students from 120 countries enrolled at the university during the fall 2017 semester. Having a rich international community is an important facet of the University of Arkansas campus life.

Additionally, international students studying at the University of Arkansas have a positive impact on the state's economy. According to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the university's international students contributed $45.4 million to the state's economy and supported 550 jobs during the 2016-17 academic year.

"We live in a global society, so exposing domestic and international students to other cultures is critical for their professional development," Anderson said. "We take seriously our role of creating an environment on our campus where students from Arkansas, the nation and the world can discover and create together."

Anderson, who has 10 years of international education experience, is also the chair of Region III of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. He is currently leading the planning of the region's upcoming conference, which will be held in Little Rock from Oct. 27-31.