Industry News | 04/20

30 April

• Maynooth University will reverse a proposed 3% rent increase and introduce a freeze
• Italian university representatives characterise online learning as “essential” to resuming the next academic year and emphasise the key role universities will play in developing economies following this crisis
• Italian government legislation specifies that for packages to countries where Italians aren’t allowed to land, they can withdraw from tourism and study abroad contracts [Italian]
• Hygiene and sanitation will become the top priority in the sharing economy, experts predict
• Only 57% of US parents say they would continue paying for their children’s higher education if it were to continue as online-only in the fall
• UK Education Minister rejects suggestions that the government will “pick and choose” which universities to support
• International Hospitality Media CEO Piers Brown has predicted the urban living winners and losers in this crisis

29 April

• Real estate lenders fear their loan books will come under stress in Q3 2020 if economic activity does not pick up
• International graduates in The Netherlands are calling for extensions on their one-year job-seeking residence permits post-graduation due to the current challenge of finding a job [Dutch]
• Dutch national student unions are joining forces to call for support for students financially struggling from the crisis [Dutch]
• It is too early to predict the impact of Covid-19 on the recruitment of international students, the director of Universities UK International says
• Some experts predict that study abroad providers more focused on discipline, over destination, will better weather the storm
• Experts warn: UK Government needs to take urgent steps to ensure that visas for international students are not held up by the outbreak
• Australia’s state government of Victoria announces an emergency support fund of AU$45 million offering AU$1,100 for all struggling international students
• China has threatened a possible boycott of Australian universities as bilateral tensions rise over Australia’s call for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus

28 April

• US Public Policy and Economic expert Christina Paxson writes she is “cautiously optimistic that campuses can reopen in the fall, but only if careful planning is done now.”
• Universities UK proposes a numbers cap on admissions, but experts worry it will not be enough to stop the most prestigious universities from ‘hoovering up’ domestic students
• The Australian government plans to announce economic relief measures for international students on Wednesday
• Virtual tours are becoming more widely used in the real estate sector, and some predict the current challenges will help bring these tools into the mainstream
• 87% of Chinese parents and students are reconsidering plans for studying in the US and are diversifying their choices of study destinations
• In Sweden, the numbers of applications to local universities are rising. According to the Director General of the University Council, this is likely due to the impact of the pandemic and the economic recession
• The Polish Minister of Science and Higher Education said that there are currently no plans to delay the start of the next academic year [Polish]
• QS survey of prospective international students to the UK has found that only 6% of prospective students are aware of the extension of the post-study work visa from 4 months to 2 years
• Students are in dire financial straits, German universities warn
• As COVID-19 responses in Germany are praised, interest in studying in the country are growing

23 April

• International students at the University of Lisbon ask for financial support for the disruption to this academic semester [Portuguese]
• UK universities face loss of £2.5 billion with 30k jobs at risk, according to new report
• German coalition government is yet to reach agreement on supporting the many thousands of students facing financial hardship because of the lockdown measures
• International students who have left the US report feelings of isolation and anxiety due to time differences and concerns about visa status
• “In this new environment, higher-ed institutions that are less in love with tradition and more in love with their students will be the ones that thrive.” Michael Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College
• Inside Higher Ed imagines 15 possible scenarios for the autumn semester, ranging from back to normal to fully remote
• 90% of US Higher Education institutions used emergency distance education to complete Spring 2020 term, survey finds
• Universities worldwide report that the COVID-19 epidemic has drawn attention to the work universities do in their communities as experts and healthcare workers visibly make a difference

22 April

• The National Union of Students is calling for a student hardship fund of £60 million for all students currently in further and higher education in the UK
• Singapore Press Holdings reports bookings to date for the 2020/2021 academic year are around 60%, which is higher than this time last year
• A survey of prospective Indian students looking to study overseas finds 70% wish to continue their applications to study overseas
• Student Living by Sodexo is providing virtual support programme for UK students in lockdown
• ESN Impact Report finds 5% of students experienced at least one major problem related to their exchange
• Trinity College unveils plans for university accommodation with low rent designed in, moving away from the en-suite style towards apartment-style accommodation
• Tier 4 visa restrictions loosen in the UK. Includes provisions that sponsors can self-assess whether students have met language requirements and relaxed attendance requirements
• Experts are weighing in on the pandemic’s impact on university business models as well as whether the potential to reach more people will be offset by the pressure to cut fees
• Flexible workspace provider Tribes announced the launch of ‘corona-proof’ offices
• Restaurants, cafes, and some schools in Austria will re-open from May 15, Universities remain closed
• NAFSA CEO Esther D. Brimmer said: “While we are awaiting an official executive order and do not yet know how the announced immigration policy will impact international students and scholars, we can unequivocally state that they are vital to the US economy.”
• As many as 40% of recent travellers may wait six months or more after coronavirus containment measures end before they decide to fly again

21 April

• At least 5 US institutions and university students are facing class action lawsuits from students and parents demanding refunds for underused tuition fees and unused room and board
• The first wave of US government relief funding to HE will see $14 billion in grants distributed to colleges and universities
• A number of US universities consider cancelling in-person classes until 2021
• International students in Norway from low-income countries are eligible for a government grant, but will need to write an essay on their experiences as international students during this time in order to receive it
• The UK government has announced that international students employed in healthcare work are not confined to usual caps of 20 hours per week during term time
• Scottish Minsters have begun preparing a bailout for struggling universities

20 April

• Anticipating an 80% drop in international students and a loss of hundreds of millions of euros, Trinity College Dublin announces recruitment freeze as part of a cost-saving strategy
• As professors worldwide adjust to online teaching, many international students are adapting to unusual class times
• International students in Australia report feelings of abandonment as they are stranded without flights home, assurances of visa extensions or extension of financial support.
• Survey finds 58% of respondent US HEI are considering or have decided to continue online learning in Autumn 2020
• A McKinsey report defines 3 potential epidemiological and public health scenarios for US HE, outlining the implications for a resumption to face-to-face instruction as early as Autumn 2020 or as late as Autumn 2021
• Polish universities remain closed but the HE Minister comments that should they reopen this academic year, universities could shorten the summer holiday to compensate at their discretion
• Portuguese universities and polytechnic institutes have two weeks to prepare for the possibility of restarting face-to-face classes in early May [Portuguese]
• Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron announces higher education institutions will remain closed until September [French]
• Cornell University sociologists estimate the average Cornell undergraduate student comes into contact with 500 other students per week in class alone

16 April

• Global universities struggle to engage fully with Chinese students given Chinese internet restrictions
• “One positive side-effect of the coronavirus crisis is that it has speeded up experimentation with alternative recruitment practices that don’t involve long-haul travel. A key factor in how soon an institution is likely to recover is how well it treats its current and prospective international students at this time of crisis.” says Dr Vicky Lewis, international education strategy and marketing consultant
• HEPI study confirms that living at home is the most popular option for local students in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, while shared flats and halls of residence are most common in England
• “Institutions have to roll up their sleeves in the next few years and work hard to achieve their voice, brand, and presence post COVID-19. Students will not find (institutions) in the same ways,” said Content Marketing Manager of QS NA, Amity Bacon
• QS Global survey finds 53% of respondents worldwide say COVID-19 has impacted their plans to study abroad and 50% of institutions predict the pandemic will have a detrimental impact on the volume of student applications

15 April

• Students in The Czech Republic can return to universities next week for activities capped at 5 people [Czech]
• “If anything, there will be a rediscovery of how really special the traditional campus is,” writes US education historian John R. Thelin
• The International Association of Language Centers has launched a new online portal offering agents and students an overview of available language courses and the ability to directly contact institutions and book courses
• Hungary reports a drop of 20,000 applications for higher education institutions this year [Hungarian]
• 27% of prospective Chinese students intend to cancel their study plans in the UK, British Council survey finds
• UK higher education sector launches #WeAreTogether campaign to highlight support for international students

14 April

• US university finance expert Lucie Lapovsky suggests universities innovate in their summer offerings to encourage new student enrolments
• PropTech providers are seeing a huge surge in demand with the need for virtual touring solutions
• A group of major English Language Teaching schools have written an open letter to education agencies explaining the industry is at risk
• 56% of surveyed international students in Norway cannot pay their rent due to lost income [Norwegian]
• Portuguese universities are very likely to postpone the beginning of the next academic year [Portuguese]
• HEI should focus on 3 core principles during these times if they wish to survive; the sharing of best practices, staying close to their students, and focus on competence
• UK Universities prepare for a reduction in international students of between 80% and 100% with some prestigious names expecting to lose over £100m in the short term

10 April

• CUBO offers complimentary membership to UK and Irish HEI for support amidst the Corona crisis
• The Institute of Student Employers indicates routes into graduation jobs have been reduced by almost a third, while 68% of UK firms have canceled work experience and trial opportunities
• Xior has issued its first debt capital markets transaction through a €100 million green US bond
• Police fine students in the Amsterdam region for social distance violations, despite their shared household status in student accommodation [Dutch]
• France, Canada and New Zealand extend financial support measures to international students, while the US, UK and China refuse to do so
• Three UK universities have made hundreds of lecturers, researchers and support staff redundant

9 April

• American dormitories making room for hospital overflow face backlash from students
• A Belgian student accommodation provider has established a fund to pay 75% rent and utility costs of now struggling students [Belgian]
• “Extreme conditions often clarify what otherwise is vague or uncertain… as the wave of COVID-19 subsides, I believe there will be a greater need for intimacy within communities,” ODA founder Eran Chan writes
• Research done by THE in 2016 showed that students from public and private universities felt less engaged by blended learning. Have universities gotten better at blending since?
• GCP has backed off the acquisition of the 412-bed Scape Mile End Canalside in London
• The Collective has launched The Collective Virtual Experiences initiative, available to all to stay connected, entertained, inspired and healthy
• Studyportals has launched a free COVID-19 dashboard to track data about international study interest
• After Airbnb recently secured $1bn in funding, sources suggest the company is paying a steep 10% interest
• Colliers CEO predicts post COVID-19 global real estate investment recovery to be sharper and faster than the 2008 crisis

8 April

• Similar to the UK, Spanish students would prefer to avoid face-to-face evaluation during the summer vacation [Spanish]
• Students in The UK would prefer to avoid face-to-face evaluation through the summer, poll finds
• Santander Universities and the IE Foundation have launched a fund aim to provide 15,500 digital scholarships to educators, university students and young professionals
• “Yale is a rich institution. A large number of education centers face the same emergency with dramatically lower resource availability. Hundreds of thousands of students risk a reduction in the acquisition of human capital due to the lack of internet access, or due to a lack of technical and professional assistance that make online education a valid substitute for traditional education.” Yale professor Fabrizio Zilibotti writes
• UNESCO reports that school and university closures have impacted 91% of the world’s student population
• Facing likely reductions in international enrolment, The UK takes stock of the influence of international students on their economies and campuses
• In the midst of an onslaught of cancelations due to travel restrictions, Airbnb has raised $1 billion in debt and private equity as it shifts focus to long term stays (including student accommodation)
• Unite Group PLC reports a 2.2 % drop in portfolio value despite 2020/21 reservations remaining in line with last year’s figures
• StudyPortals has used its student sentiment data to craft guidelines for organisations communicating with current and prospective students
• Student accommodation is resilient to this crisis and transaction volumes will increase in the second half of 2020, predicts Savills’ Director of Operational Capital Markets Aurelio Di Napoli

7 April

• The Polish Secretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education writes an encouraging letter to international students [Polish]
• Having faced global criticism, the Australian government confirms support for some international students
• A Czech university hall of residence offers remote check-out and belongings storage at discounted rate for students restricted from retrieving belongings. It also extends discounts to students involved in the fight against COVID-19 [Czech]
• Move online or bank on postponement? Language schools and education agencies weigh short and long term options
• Coliving operators in Hong Kong are offering 50% discounts to combat significant (and persistent) drops in occupancy
• While European and US coliving executives say they are feeling short-term pain, they maintain long-term confidence in the housing model
• UK HE experts predict university survival will depend on exposure to international market, with those attracting 25% or more from overseas at the highest risk

6 April

• AT RISK: While many struggle to get back to families from their study destinations, Chinese students are at risk of severe racism and discrimination
• EAIE Board President delivers an open letter to the European Commission, applauding them on the steps taken so far and issuing an appeal for continued action across six key areas
• MARKETS: Savills Global Market Sentiment Survey reports an overall fall in transaction volume of 62%. However, more countries reported no change in residential, including multifamily, student and senior (56%), than a fall (42%)
• ZOOM IN: Despite significant challenges, international students in The Netherlands are supported by collaboration between student unions, universities, the ministry of education and other stakeholders
• The Head of the International Education Association of Australia says Australia should look to New Zealand and Canada “which are providing much more support to overseas students”
• “Things won’t change as much as they will accelerate. While other crises reshaped the future, COVID-19 is just making the future happen faster.” NYU Professor Scott Galloway
• PREDICTION: International higher education experts suggest the post-pandemic outlook will be bleakest for the poorest
• The German summer semester will still go ahead and application and admission deadlines for the winter semester will be adjusted. The goal is to mitigate uncertainty by making all summer courses available digitally [German]
• LATEST DECISION: Thirty Spanish universities have announced they will not return to face-to-face classes this academic year, despite Andalusian students reporting their universities are not ready for online tuition [Spanish]

3 April

• View from here: While China and South Korea begin to re-open, universities remain closed and entrance exams are postponed
• Closer Look: 46% of students in ‘consideration and research’ phase of study abroad planning reported their plans have changed, according to early QS survey data
• Markets: The Dutch construction sector is looking at a third crisis in twelve years, with investment in residential anticipated to drop 20% [Dutch]
• Remarks: The Chief Executive of Universities UK calls for government support given top-end prediction of 20% drop in average university income next year

2 April

• Portuguese polytechnic universities consider postponing payment of tuition fees, universities have not yet [Portuguese]
• Over 500 students remain in university-owned residences in the North of Portugal [Portuguese]
• International students in Norway face financial challenges [Norwegian]
• Following last week’s ban on evictions, the Dutch government allows the extension of temporary rental contracts [Dutch]
• 86% of Chinese students abroad report they want to return home
• Nick Hillman of Times Higher Education sees the potential for graduates to stay in higher education during the global recession the world is entering

1 April

• Uncertainty on the impact on study abroad programmes next academic year
• A training course for teachers on anxiety and stress management is under development in Italy [Italian]
• UK universities fast-track financial assistance for international students
• A semester like no other, higher education experts weigh in on the situation at universities [German]
• High school exams cancelled in The Netherlands [Dutch]
• European Commission provides clarity on Erasmus+ grant concerns
• Irish Government Offers Unemployment Payment for International Students
• Study abroad nonprofit CIEE forced to eliminate over 600 jobs
• American study abroad organisations report more struggles, but commitment to their missions
• Cushman & Wakefield outlines 10 considerations in approaching lease renegotiation and rent reduction
• Empiric Student Property considers waiving student rents and prepares by strengthening cash position
• The Federation of Education and Language Consultant Associations gives an update on the impact on their markets

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