[3] It is predicted that citizens of Asian nations, particularly India and China, will represent an increasing portion of the global international student population.
By bringing international students, the network can provide educational institutions with a source of revenue and contribute to the nation's economy.
For example, in Canada, international student expenditure on tuition, accommodation and living expenses contributed more than CAD (Canadian dollar) 8 billion to the economy in 2010.
[5] In 2005, 27 percent of international students from a European Union member state were employed in the UK six months after graduation.
[8] After the terrorist attack of September 2001 international student enrolment in the United States declined for the first time in 30 years.
It was more difficult to obtain visas, other countries competed for international student enrolments and anti-American sentiment increased.
In 1987, around 3,000 students received grants to study for a period of 6 to 12 months at a host university of another of the twelve European member states.