Visa Concerns Deter Foreign-Born Ph.D.s From Working at Startups
Foreign-born graduates with doctoral degrees in science and engineering from American universities apply to and receive job offers at high-tech startups at the same rate as U.S. citizens, but are only half as likely to actually work at the new companies, a study from Cornell University has found. Instead, they choose to work at large technology companies that have the resources and experience to sponsor workers for H-1B or permanent-residency visas. Visa policies could be an obstacle for small companies seeking to hire foreign-born workers with specialized skills, the authors conclude. Because so many Ph.D. graduates in STEM fields are from overseas – more than half the graduates in some disciplines – this creates an uneven playing field for startups competing with established companies to attract top talent.
Apology Issued in ‘Israel Studies’ Controversy
Editors of the journal Israel Studies have issued an apology following the resignation of nearly a dozen board members who accused them of improperly serving Israel’s public diplomacy interests. In a statement, the editors described as “flawed” the decision-making process in the publication of a special issue that contained essays on how charged terminology is used in reference to Israel. The editors said they planned to introduce new procedures for acceptance, review, and publication of all articles and special issues. For more background on the controversy that roiled the field, I recommend this piece by Alexander C. Kafka.
Saudi Arabia Loosens Restrictions on Women’s Travel
Saudi Arabia will no longer require adult women to get the permission of a male guardian to obtain a passport and travel abroad, the government announced. Male guardianship requirements had prevented some women from studying overseas, while others could enroll in foreign colleges only if a husband or brother also did. Saudi Arabia, which has a generous government scholarship program, is the fourth-largest source of international students on American campuses. I followed a group of students at Arizona State University to write about the experience of Saudi women on American campuses.
Questions About Trump Administration’s Openness to Chinese Students
Last week I told you about the speech given by a top State Department official to “clarify misperceptions” about the Trump administration’s stance toward students from China. In her remarks, Marie Royce, assistant secretary of state for education and cultural affairs, said President Trump views Chinese students as “tremendous assets” and wants them to study on American campuses. That came as news to many international educators, who have spent the last two years trying to counter the belief that the United States is unwelcoming to students from overseas. For more analysis of and reaction to Royce’s speech, check out my global-education newsletter, latitude(s).