On 20th September Dr. Rebwar Kamal Gharib, an Associate Professor at the Centre for Business in Society (CBIS), Coventry University, delivered an insightful presentation on his research "Factors Affecting International Students' Decision to Study in the UK." Twenty nine staff members attended the webinar.

International students who choose to study abroad bring numerous social, cultural, and economic benefits to host countries, with financial benefits seeing a year-on-year increase. This research investigates how the decision-making processes of international students were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and demonstrates how this global event reshaped the higher education landscape. Focusing on the UK, the research identifies shifts in the factors international students considered when choosing to study abroad and selecting educational institutions during this period.

Key findings reveal a reduction in the importance of traditional considerations such as immigration intentions diminishing. The very significant impact of changing student visa policies on enrolment figures is also identified, which is examined over three distinct periods: pre-COVID, during COVID, and post-COVID.

Dr Gharib's work offers a fresh perspective by expanding the traditional push/pull model, incorporating new variables like post-study work visas, and highlighting the dual impact of disruptive factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and changing student visa policies.

The research also presents valuable takeaways for higher education institutions, policymakers, and key stakeholders on strategies to enhance inbound student mobility.

Dr Rebwar Kamal Gharib is an Associate Professor at the Centre for Business in Society (CBIS), where he leads the Centre’s international strategic partnerships. Prior to his current role, he served as the Associate Head of Recruitment and Marketing for the School of Strategy and Leadership at Coventry University. His earlier positions include Regional Director of International Partnerships for the College of Business and Law, and Partnership Director at Tunku Abdul Rahman University in Malaysia. Before joining Coventry University, Dr Gharib gained extensive experience in the UK’s higher education sector, working with institutions such as the University of Strathclyde and the University of Bedfordshire. His career began outside academia as an ICT analyst for local Councils in England, where he successfully led multiple large-scale IT projects.

Dr Gharib's background in computing is complemented by a PhD in Business from the University of Bedfordshire and a DBA from Coventry University. As a Senior Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy, his research interests span two main areas: student recruitment and international student mobility, and the digital economy, including big data, information systems, social media, online communitas, e-commerce, trust, and cybersecurity. Dr Gharib also reviews for several journals, including Information & Management, IT & People, European Journal of Information Systems, and the Journal of Enterprise Information Management.