Case Studies in International Education

Lost in the Wilderness:

2026-03-20T06:16:22+00:00

A small, active international programs office employing full time experienced staff, inexperienced staff, and part-time student workers can pose complex challenges in personnel management. When personalities clash, behavior expectations differ and concerning accusations are made, the pressure on leaders and colleagues can reach a breaking point.

A Balancing Act:

2026-02-20T18:52:36+00:00

Geopolitical instability and evolving federal travel restrictions continue to disrupt international student mobility, challenging institutional enrollment strategies and equity commitments. This case explores how a U.S. institution responds when newly admitted students face visa denials and administrative delays shortly before matriculation. The situation compels leaders to balance financial sustainability, reputational considerations, and ethical obligations to globally admitted students. By examining tensions between enrollment management and access, the case encourages readers to consider proactive policy design, cross-campus collaboration, and institutional advocacy in volatile political climates. The case underscores how institutional responses to disruption shape student trust and signal long-term commitment to global inclusion.

A New Angle:

2025-11-07T07:39:41+00:00

This case study presents a four-stage approach to introducing English as a teaching language at a small German university of applied sciences. The ELI model (English Language Increments) ranges from partially English-taught modules to courses with international virtual or physical collaboration. Implementation revealed differing uptake across stages, with higher demand for mobility formats and fewer fully English-taught courses than expected. The case illustrates how institutional constraints, language proficiency, and motivation shape internationalization processes and demonstrates that incremental, flexible models can effectively support sustainable global learning initiatives in higher education.

“I Want to Be Honest, But Also Safe”:

2026-02-20T18:50:28+00:00

Recent federal visa policies requiring disclosure of social media identifiers have introduced new complexities for international students seeking entry into the United States. This case examines how digital surveillance practices intersect with institutional advising, academic freedom, and ethical responsibility. Through the lens of an international student concerned about prior political expression, the case invites readers to explore how institutions navigate ambiguity in visa adjudication while maintaining compliance integrity and student trust. The scenario highlights tensions between risk mitigation and self-censorship, institutional neutrality and advocacy, and federal authority and student dignity. Readers are encouraged to analyze the broader implications of surveillance culture for global mobility and the perceived openness of U.S. higher education.

Authority Under Pressure:

2026-03-07T19:30:43+00:00

This case study, set in the context of military leadership development training, explores cross-cultural approaches to risk-management, communication, and decision-making, intensified when leaders are under pressure. Additionally, the case explores organizational dynamics, the role of authority, and the pressures of representation that individuals may carry on behalf of others.

"Can You Tell Me If I'm Doing This Right?":

2026-03-19T21:45:05+00:00

This case study explores how policy, institutional constraints, and students’ need for confirmation shape international student advising. Set at a large public university in the United States during summer 2025, it follows a student who seeks reassurance from ISSS after submitting a request related to his legal status and travel plans. The case highlights a key professional dilemma: how advisors can provide support and clarity when processes are slow, outcomes cannot be guaranteed, and students are seeking not only information, but also a sense of reassurance.

"Copy-Paste":

2026-03-16T15:06:01+00:00

A teacher struggles with ethical questions related to teaching, grading, and plagiarism while volunteer teaching in a school outside her home country.

First Things First:

2026-02-20T18:54:17+00:00

International students experiencing acute psychological distress often confront a dual burden: managing personal well-being while maintaining immigration compliance. This case centers on an F-1 student facing a potential medical leave recommendation and explores how International Student Services professionals coordinate with counseling, academic leadership, and risk management. The scenario highlights the intersection of reduced course load regulations, privacy considerations, cultural stigma, and crisis response. Readers are invited to analyze how institutions can uphold regulatory requirements while delivering compassionate, student-centered care. The case emphasizes the need for integrated systems that recognize mental health realities within immigration compliance frameworks and challenges institutions to reconsider how policy structures affect student vulnerability and retention.

The Long and Short of It:

2026-01-15T07:38:38+00:00

In this case, an educator explores how her institution can responsibly, equitably, and credibly integrate short-term international mobility experiences into formal academic structures including those for awarding credit and assessing learning.

Overwhelmed and In Retreat:

2026-03-04T13:54:38+00:00

In this case a student participates in a semester exchange program between two campuses of a prominent technological university. The student goes from its branch campus in an East African capital its main campus in a major northeastern U.S. city. While both campuses share institutional branding, degree requirements, and English as the medium of instruction, they operate in different cultural contexts which is challenging for the student's adjustment.