The US higher education system is on the brink of a profound transformation. According to Canada's The Globe and Mail, the Trump administration has upended the American higher education system within just a few months.
Professor Steven Mintz from the University of Texas at Austin predicts that over the next decade, demographic shifts, economic pressures, disruptive technological innovations, and changing societal attitudes will force many colleges and universities to either adapt or face the risk of closure.
Professor Mei Weihui from Zhejiang University highlights that the US is facing challenges to its innovation advantage. These include a decline in international innovation rankings, a worsening trade imbalance in high-tech industries, reduced value-added output in manufacturing, and a weakening defense industrial base—all of which are impacting America's future development.
Furthermore, the US has lost its edge in incentivizing scientific research. While America remains the largest destination for international students, countries like Germany, Britain, and Canada have launched strategies to internationalize education, aiming to increase their attractiveness and compete for student resources.
The US urgently needs high-quality STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) talent, particularly from its domestic population. However, interest among American students in pursuing STEM degrees has declined, while the proportion of international students earning these degrees has risen. Trump's policies targeting international students may exacerbate this talent gap.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has repeatedly cut research funding, leaving universities struggling to maintain facilities, manage administration, hire personnel, and sustain research operations. Some laboratories have been forced to suspend activities, lay off staff, or stop admitting graduate students.
These funding cuts are not only hindering progress in scientific innovation but are also pushing early-career scientists out of the field and accelerating the brain drain of top researchers.
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