Research shows that studying and working abroad makes you "smarter." The impact of higher education on the economy, the diversity of college campuses and the potential political benefits of having allies in many countries has turned the choices of international students into a competitive market. In the case of Turkey, looking into the relationship between Turkish government funding and its foreign policy goals, we see an intriguing correlation. Baris Balcioglu, a professor of industrial engineering and the exchange student adviser in the manufacturing systems program at Sabanci University in Istanbul, told Al-Monitor, “One crucial factor that affects a university’s ranking is the number of international students it accepts annually. That's why the more diverse a university campus, the better the quality of education globally.”
While rankings are important for students, parents and college administrators, the financial market share of international students is also crucial. For instance, the United Kingdom, the second-most popular destination for international students, receives 10% of all international students annually. In 2011, 2.8% of the United Kingdom's gross domestic product came from higher education revenues. From that amount, it was estimated that 20% came from non-European Union students.
