This report surveys the student mobility landscape in East Asia, drawing from the latest HESA, Visa and UCAS data to assess enrolment trends from across the region. The overall picture, however, is mixed, with signs that student mobility from East Asia recovered somewhat in the second year of the pandemic (2021/22), but remains below pre-pandemic levels. This report examines both how mobility from the region has changed since Covid-19, as well as where East Asia appears to be headed in 2023 and beyond. Overall, East Asia as a whole will increasingly be less about quantity but will be defined more by the quality of its’ students. UK HEIs that wish to remain relevant in the region will need to invest more time and resources to focus on recruiting higher quality students rather than higher numbers. This strategic shift will create a virtuous cycle for UK HEIs, improving their rankings and global reputation while increasing their competitiveness in future recruitment cycles.
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