The Bush effect : American foreign policy and the declining number of Norwegian degree students in the U.S.

Abstract

The thesis investigates the relationship between international education and international politics. This task is carried out by conducting a survey of the influences of American foreign policy on the United States' attractiveness as a foreign student destination. 392 high school graduates in the Oslo area answered a questionnaire examining their considerations about applying for degree studies in the United States. The study focused in particular on the respondents who did not consider pursuing degrees in America. In the last 8 years the number of Norwegian degree enrollments in America has declined by 53%. This is a dramatic drop. In Norway participants in international education and people involved with Norwegian-American relations are concerned that this development might hamper Norway's good relationship with the United States in research and technology. Less student mobility between the two nations could also bring in political cnsequences. Many Norwegians seem to be skeptical toward Bush. The study thinks that negative reactions to the foreign policy could contribute to explaing why Norwegain students increasingly reject the United States a student destination. American foreign policy under George W. Bush was tested against other factors that could affect the desicion of not going to the United States. The respondents who did not want to study for degrees America were to a large extent influenced by foreign policy. This study also examined the sources and types of information that might enforce the relevance of the negative reactions among the responents. The news media and opinions among friends seem to correlate with foreign policy in discouraging prospective students from enrolling in degree programs at American universities. The combination of these aspects create diificult circumstances for organizations who wish to promote degree programs in the United States. In addition, increased international competition and economic factors also seem to be important reasons to choose alternative destinations over the United States. The thesis suggests possible ways of communicating with students so as to address the declining interest in degree students America.