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A significant portion – nearly 11% – of Iowa State University’s 31,000-strong student body is made up of international students. But when they graduate, a good number of them return to other countries, taking their education with them.
Speaking from the Partnering for Growth biotechnology convention in Ankeny, Iowa State University President Dr. Steven Leath says there are two aspects of keeping Iowa State graduates in Iowa, whether they’re from another country or another county.
Keeping international students in the state, Leath says, requires cooperation on the part of the federal government. According to Leath, international students are 40% more likely to start a business, making them a significant investment.
Leath says keeping students in Iowa starts with cultivating new jobs and businesses through an innovative economy.
