Study Group partner DePaul University supports graduate WorkForce skills development

Tue, 03 Aug 20211min read

Study Group partner DePaul University in the US supports Optional Practical Training to boost international graduate WorkForce skills

DePaul University in the US, a Study Group partner, is one of 151 higher education institutions to sign an amicus brief in support of Optional Practical Training (OPT) for international graduates in the country.

Currently, OPT allows “international students to continue, and deepen their education, by applying the skills and knowledge they learn in the classroom in a professional setting,” according to the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, which is “an alliance of American college and university leaders dedicated to increasing public understanding of how immigration policies and practices impact our students, campuses and communities".

DePaul University strongly advocates for OPT and aligns with the amicus brief’s argument that it directly benefits higher education and the US economy, as well as provides experiential learning, which is a crucial component of US education.

Joshua Rubin, Study Group’s Executive Vice President for Higher Education in North America comments:

“As an organization focused on enabling the best possible outcomes for our students, who come to study at our partner institutions in the US from all over the world, Study Group fully endorses DePaul’s support for OPT.

“Through recent research we have undertaken, Study Group is increasingly aware of the importance of employability to international students. As such, we recognize the benefits of the OTP program, to help international graduates put the knowledge and skills they have developed through their program of study into practice in a professional environment.

"OPT experiences give international students the opportunity to work in the “real” world and expands students’ knowledge beyond the classroom. OPT opens doors for students in the American workplace and gives practical, technical experiences while supporting research and innovation.”