A UKEAS survey of over 4,000 university candidates from Asia and West Africa indicated that potential Asian students interested in learning in the UK are more cautious and indecisive.
“82 percent of West African applicants aim to join in September, compared to 71 percent in Asia,” according to the research conducted between April 13 and May 6 with a global response rate of 35 percent.
In Asia, one in every five candidates was indecisive, compared to 11% in West Africa.
According to the research, “Asian applicants showed higher levels of fear overall.”
“The chance of catching Covid was cited by 71 percent of Asian respondents as a significant concern, compared to only 33 percent in West Africa.
“Obtaining a visa or flight was the second most prevalent problem in West Africa, but it was the least of a concern in Asia.”
While students from both regions preferred to begin studies in the UK, there was a split in choice for online learning, according to UKEAS business and financial analyst Jose Sosa.
In Asia, 80% of respondents stated they would be willing to begin in-person studies in the UK in September 2021, while in West Africa, 77% said the same.
Students from all over the world stated they would be willing to attend blended learning sessions in the UK in September, with 32 percent from West Africa and 34 percent from Asia saying they would.
“The majority of our respondents indicated that they would be willing to begin classes in person. When students in West Africa see [the results for studying] online in the UK or their own country, they are more willing to start lessons online in the UK than students in Asia,” Sosa added.
“In Asia, you can see that people are considerably more eager to start classes online in their native country.”
In Asia, 12% of respondents stated they would be happy to begin their education online in their home country, whereas only 3% of respondents in West Africa noted the same.
According to Richard Jones, head of partnerships at UKEAS, the results reflect a pattern congruent with the general feeling witnessed in the two regions since the pandemic’s inception.
“You have students in West Africa who want to continue their studies and be involved with post-study career opportunities,” he said.
“Whereas in Asia, you’ll see greater apprehension about enrolling and more individuals waiting to see what happens.
“The percentage of people who answered to the poll who plan to enroll in September, from both regions, is quite encouraging.”
During the coronavirus outbreak, colleges worked hard to communicate with applicants, according to the report.
The majority of West African and Asian applicants want more information about the arrival process, how classes will give, and the UK’s efforts to vaccinate and safeguard the people, according to the research.
Around 62 percent of respondents indicated they need more information on the arrival procedure, which includes transfers, quarantine, and testing, among other things.
The majority of students in Asia would also like to know about actions being made to protect pupils against Covid, according to the report.
In West Africa, 53% of respondents believed that universities had done an excellent job alerting them about Covid protection measures. In Asia, 45 percent of respondents agreed.
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