According to a report, a large number of Zimbabwean students are leaving the country to enrol in higher education institutions in the United States.
An Institute of International Education Open Doors report stated that over 1,800 students registered for the 2022–2023 academic year. It also noted that the number of undergraduate students from Zimbabwe studying in the US climbed by 24,4%, which was one of the highest increases among the sub-Saharan African nations.
“The number of Zimbabwean students enrolled at United States colleges and universities increased by 18,7% over the previous academic year, according to the 2023 Open Doors report issued by the Institute of International Education,” the US embassy said in a statement.
“With a reported 1 789 Zimbabwean higher education students in the United States for the 2022/23 academic year, Zimbabwe is the second leading country in sub-Saharan Africa, per capita, and the sixth in the overall number of students in the United States. The number of Zimbabwean undergraduate students increased by 24,4%, representing one of the largest increases among all sub-Saharan African nations.”
Of the Zimbabweans studying in the United States, 51,4% are undergraduates, 29,4% are graduate students, 17% are involved in optional practical training and the remainder are enrolled in non-degree programmes.
“The United States remains in the top three destination countries for Zimbabweans studying abroad, after South Africa and the United Kingdom. The growing interest of Zimbabweans studying in the United States affirms the strong bonds between the people of Zimbabwe and the United States.
“The US embassy in Zimbabwe also maintains robust exchange programmes which enable Zimbabweans to travel to the United States for academic and professional exchange and prioritises visa appointments for student and exchange visitors,” further read the statement.
According to the US, in the past decade, more than 500 Zimbabweans have participated in the US Fulbright Program, a fully funded academic exchange as part of its commitment to strengthen US-Zimbabwe university partnerships.
Source:Zimlive
