Ohio Has Developed Advanced Educational Programs that Are Attracting International Students

According to the Ohio Business Development Coalition, (OBDC), which is a non-profit group marketing Ohio for capital investment, Ohio is one of the top ten states in America, ranking number 9, where international students are pursuing advanced degrees in education.

Ohio has attracted over 18,000 international students. Ohio is known globally for its advanced manufacturing and design degrees as well as its advanced materials.

Executive Director for the OBDC, Ed Burghard says that Ohio offers a perfect balance of access to both large and small metropolitan cities to international students. With regards to employment, Ohio ranks number one in American for rubber and plastics employment. Ohio is number one in the production in several industries such as frozen specialty food, plastic, automobile suppliers, electrical equipment and appliances and metal working equipment.

According to the director of the BAHEE (Business Alliance for Higher Education and the Economy), Shaun Yoder, Ohio has a formula for success which is: Talent + Innovation=Prosperity.

The BAHEE is working with both public and private sectors to institute strategies that will double the number of students graduating with bachelor's degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines from Ohio's universities by the year 2015.

Ohio's Governor, Ted Strickland, has a 10 year plan which is designed to encourage Ohio's four year and two year colleges and universities in Ohio's University System to provide education that is not only affordable but that can provide quality education.

Ohio lawmakers, along with Governor Strickland, set aside an extra $150 million for higher education and froze the state's tuition cost for a period of two years.

Yoder believes that Ohio firms will be able to recruit more employees from the pool of graduating students as a result of the University System. He also feels that Ohio offers the perfect balance for graduating students in its ability to provide professional success as well as personal success.