Kirkwood Community College is stepping up its efforts to welcome more international students, especially from Africa, despite the tough visa challenges that many applicants face.
According to Elizabeth O’Brien of the Global Learning Office, the department works year-round to bring students from around the world to Kirkwood, even though visa appointments and embassy denials remain outside the school’s control.
Cyrus Mudanya, who leads international recruitment, partners closely with the college to visit multiple countries each year, meeting students, families and school partners to introduce them to Kirkwood’s programs.
His most recent visit was to Kenya and Rwanda. Many students also arrive through word of mouth, with relatives or friends abroad recommending Kirkwood because of its strong academic reputation.
O’Brien highlights that nursing, business and liberal arts transfer programs continue to draw the highest number of international applicants, with nursing standing out as a major attraction. Skilled staff members also support students through the visa process, cultural adjustment and academic orientation.
Although tuition can be a financial hurdle, many international students receive scholarships from the Kirkwood Foundation and other organizations.
The college’s expanding global partnerships also help students navigate requirements, participate in exchange programs and join study-abroad experiences.
These exchanges benefit both incoming international students and Kirkwood students who travel overseas.
To strengthen outreach, the Global Learning Office collaborates with the marketing team to produce videos that share student stories and explain admission requirements.
It also run monthly podcast episodes focused on alumni engagement and current student experiences, along with active social media pages for international students on Facebook and Instagram—tools they hope will inspire even more prospective students to choose Kirkwood.
Categories: Campus News, News
