International students are increasingly targeted by the Trump Administration. Not only did the the president threaten to shut down Harvard to them, but he suspended visa interviews for all foreigners wishing to apply to any American university.
Italy and the United States have a long history of academic collaboration, marked by institutions such as the Italian Academy at the Columbia or by exchange programs such as the Fulbright scholarship, which has even benefited a former Italian Prime Minister.
The US had been a dream destination for top EU students, although that is beginning to wane.
I asked some Italian students from around the country and abroad how they feel affected by the new policies.
The announcements came at a particular time: “Spring normally brings not only sunshine and warmth but also the results of PhD admissions from the U.S.,” says Gabriele, 22, who studies economics in Milan. “This spring has brought little joy. Many students have had their PhD offers rescinded – and now, even their visa status is uncertain. I can’t deny there’s a sense of fear among us. When the most powerful man in the world openly targets the institution you dream of joining, it’s hard to stay hopeful.”
“The U.S. has never been my main dream destination,” says Mario, 25, a PhD student in Bologna, ‘However, there was little doubt that it was always a real possibility: excellent universities, prominent research groups, and, most importantly, significant and consistent funding over time.”
That reality seems far away today, given the funding cuts imposed by the White House to universities not complying with their political stance. This ideological weaponization of research funds and grants has been applied as well to the admission process of foreigners: “I know a lot of students who would love to study in the U.S. and could add so much value to American universities,’ states Ludovica, 24, a politic science student in Pisa. “Now they could be barred for posting their personal beliefs on Instagram.”
A political dilemma.
Of course, the message sent by Trump with these measures is deemed to have a political purpose – America not available any more to those from overseas.
Tancredi, 22, who attends Law School in Rome stated “As a firm believer in the intrinsic value of democracy, I fully respect the choice made by the American people in the last presidential election. But I do hope that the current administration will change its policies concerning foreign students in the interest of the western hemisphere as a whole. Only through the free movement of skilled professionals, scientists and intellectuals, and the resulting exchange of ideas and approaches, can our civilization match its competition. Only together can Europe and America stay at the forefront of progress and prosperity.”
Indeed, although university admissions are a domestic issue, given the global importance of the U.S., this has become a worldwide worry. “What we are witnessing is a war against educational institutions and education itself, something that should not be permitted in a democracy,” declares Ludovica.’
What’s next for Europe?
The political dilemma facing international students right now affect them in a variety of different ways. There are those who keeps hope high. “Still, I see myself in the US —though I’m not sure Mr. Trump won’t do anymore,” says Gabriele.
There is who thinks the current situation will soon become unbearable: “The ideological conflict between the executive branch and universities prevents me from seeing the US as a viable option right now,” states Mario, who also believes that this predicament would affect people in Europe regardless of their desire to go abroad.
“If the U.S. become less accessible, many students will stay, or choose to come to Europe. On the one hand, this is a major opportunity, but on the other, it means increased competition in a context where funding is limited and the criteria for evaluating CVs are not yet developed, he argues.
“How will a degree from the University of Montana be assessed compared to one from Lund University or the University of Bologna?”
Giulio, an Italian currently studying politics in France, shares a similar worry. “A massive influx of bright students, excluded from the American system, could upset the balance of the university market in Europe,’ he argues. “Important institutions such as Oxford, the Sorbonne and Bocconi would become even more competitive centers, reshaping the global academic hierarchy. This influx would also have a direct impact on the real estate market in major university cities, with increased pressure on rents. An opportunity for Europe, but also a major challenge.”
In other words, when the strongest power in the world, the one who dominates (and arguably also produces) all the university rankings chooses to ignore its responsibilities towards the world, everyone ends up paying a huge price.
The hegemonic position of the US, in every possible field, comes from the fact that after WW II, Washington has pushed towards an open international system of trade, knowledge and people, with America at the center of it.
If the U.S. gives up the role of the crucial center of the world, what happens? The university conflict is probably going to be a benchmark to evaluate what will come next, although for the moment, that is hard to predict.
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