November 2008
Wales and the US
As the UK reports decreasing numbers of students from US and Canada (UCAS applications 2008/09), welsh HEI’s are reporting continuing increases in the numbers of students from Wales and Canada choosing to study in Wales.
The US and Canada have been showing significant increases for the last four years. In 2007/08 219 full time students from US and 129 from Canada studied in Wales. In addition there were well over 500 students in Wales on Study Abroad and Junior Year Abroad schemes.
In 2008 Bangor University and Trinity College Carmarthen were selected to participate in the Wales Week in New York organised by the Welsh Assembly Government, a prestigious annual event which, on this occasion, culminated in the Empire State building shining with red, green and white of the Welsh flag.
Wales International Consortium co-ordinated an extremely successful Study in Wales tour as part of the Go Abroad exhibition in Toronto and Vancouver, in September 2008, Staff from Bangor University, Cardiff University, Glyndwr University, Swansea Metropolitan University, Swansea University, Trinity College Carmarthen, University of Glamorgan, University of Wales Lampeter and University of Wales Newport all participated.
Wales International Consortium and representatives from most of the universities in Wales will participate in NAFSA 2009, this will be the fifth year of participation in this annual education exhibition. Also in 2009 the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival will be featuring Wales as the guest nation. WIC is working with the Welsh Assembly Government to coordinate a higher education representation in the event which will take place in Washington D.C in July.