A Framework to Manage International Students as Educational Visitor at a City University

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue XII, December 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

A Framework to Manage International Students as Educational Visitor at a City University

Adediran Olabanji Jamiu

Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract: – South Africa is fast becoming the preferred destination by international students across the African continent to further their education. The decision making process of these students are influenced by a number of push factors to leave their home country, as well as pull factors to enroll within a new country. These pull factors are an interplay of factors between the host country, city and university, and how well they can satisfy the needs of an international student as potential visitor. The objective of this quantitative study was to develop a framework to manage international students at the largest residential university in South Africa. After conducting an extensive literature review and an empirical study at Tshwane University of Technology a framework was formulated to reposition the City of Tshwane as a first class education destination. This framework will help destinations to attract students from Africa countries and beyond, help boost tourism activities within the destination, and will improve the marketability of Cities as destinations of learning.

Keywords: International students; Educational visitors; Educational tourism; City of learning.

I. INTRODUCTION

The rising number of international students, now more than 4.5 million globally (ICEF Monitor, 2014a) is a catalyst that can be used to develop the tourism and educational sectors of host countries. This tourism niche is abundantly rich in prosperity for countries with better understanding of international students’ need and how to fulfill their expectations together with enhancement of their overall experience during their stay. In return, it is yielding economic dividends for destinations that acknowledge the potential of students as international visitors. This explains why leading countries, such as the USA, UK, Canada and Australia have been managing educational tourism niche (students and activities surrounding their stay) with top quality administrative plan. Analyses of estimated revenues generated from educational tourism niche – the United States of America generated over R286bn, and it created several thousands of jobs (NAFSA, 2015), about R45bn in revenue and supported 70,000 jobs in London (London First & PwC 2015), it provided more than 130,000 full time jobs and generated over R154bn in income for the Australian economy (The Department of Education and Training, 2015), and, over R80bn revenue and created 81,000 jobs for Canada in 2010 (Kunin, 2012).

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