International students have left in one year 10 billion dollars to the city of Buenos Aires and seek to reach more than

The arrival of students from abroad arouses resentment in Argentina. To be able to benefit from a free education, he is crushed to occupy a place that should have a local student. However, when looking at the economic benefits left by international students, there are reasons to encourage them to come. In 2017, The 80,766 international students entering the city of Buenos Aires spent 10,113.4 million pesos.

This is demonstrated by a new study from the Faculty of Economics of the UBA. The total amount is approximately $ 9,902.8 million spent by international students in accommodation, payment of tuition fees where applicable, consumption, transportation and recreation, and an additional $ 210.6 million from the stay of their friends and family.

The vast majority of visitors – 61,058 – arrive to study in short programs at universities and other institutions. In addition, there are 16,861 undergraduate and graduate students, as well as 2,847 other graduates. In terms of nationality, Brazilians stand out (16%), Europeans (13%), Chileans (12%), Uruguayans (11%) and North Americans (8%).

According to the report of Javier Curcio and María Fernanda Luna, the average cost per trip for 2017 is estimated at $ 16,401 for tourists who have been settling for less than two weeks in town for reasons of studies. On the other hand, those who stayed between 3 and 6 weeks left an average of $ 78,501. These figures include daily living expenses and the payment of tuition fees for private universities.

"80% attend short courses or postgraduate courses, which are remunerated, which means they choose Buenos Aires for its educational quality and for its attractiveness. The impact is not only economic: it implies a competitive advantage. Nowadays, cities are competing for talent all over the world because it also concerns the inhabitants. Internationalization gives more value to your title, "he said. Infobae Fernando Straface, Secretary General and International Relations Officer of the Government of Buenos Aires, in charge of the "Study Buenos Aires" portfolio, a program designed to attract international students.

The report distinguishes between international students and foreign students. The first are those who move to another country with the sole intention of studying. The definition of foreigners is imprecise because, in many cases, they are foreign-born migrants who have moved with their families since they were boys, having even completed primary and secondary education in the country.

In this attraction of international students, the UBA becomes a decisive sensor. From the total number of students, those with a UBA program as a student destination account for 52.5% of undergraduate and management students. Of the total long-stay educational offer, it accounts for 37.4%.

"We welcome the coming of foreign students because they enrich the cultural heritage of the UBA. Interaction with people from other cultures enriches everyone. In addition, it is a factor of prestige and recognition at the international level. Those who study at our university take a very positive image and take it as theirs. Then, they are our ambbadadors in the world and reinforce the exchanges in all aspects in the countries where they are, "said Alberto Barbieri, Rector of the UBA.

The Government of Buenos Aires intends to continue to increase the number of students arriving in the country. The goal is to move from the current 80,000 to 80,000 by the end of 2020. To do this, they collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expedite the processing of student visas and migrations so that the paperwork can be done from their home country and not have to wait to get to Buenos Aires.