A survey of the most important challenges and strategies for recruiting international students to Iran
Abstract:
Higher education in the 21st century is one of the important factors affecting society, and one of the most important challenges of higher education in the new millennium is the recruitment policy of foreign students in the host countries. The purpose of this article is to examine the challenges and strategies of the Islamic Republic of Iran in recruiting foreign students in experts’ viewpoint through a qualitative study and using the focus group method. The studied community includes officials, experts, professionals and faculty members involved in executive and scientific activities related to foreign students. The studied sample includes two groups; 18 participants as officials and experts related to the field of foreign students in the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology and other important institutions of higher education; And 16 participants are researchers and members of the scientific faculty who own works in the field of foreign students. The research results have led to the identification of 7 challenges and strategies. The most important challenges in order of priority are: the number of decision-making institutions in the field of policy and planning; lack of clear goals and main direction; lack of specialized counseling centers to guide students; Introducing the Persian language as the only language for teaching and learning; the low level of educational and welfare facilities; Minimal recruitment of students from developed countries and lack of culture of interaction and empathy between Iranian and non-Iranian students.

Keywords: foreign student, higher education, internationalization, globalization, recruitment policies and focus groups