• Harvard and University of Toronto unveil a collaborative plan for international students.
• The initiative provides alternatives to students unable to return to the U.S. due to visa issues.
• Contingency options include remote learning and in-person classes in Toronto.
• Over 52% of students at Harvard Kennedy School are international.
• Plans will take effect only if there is sufficient demand.

Harvard University and the University of Toronto have jointly announced a contingency plan aimed at supporting international students who may be unable to return to the U.S. due to visa restrictions. The initiative focuses on students at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government and allows them to continue their studies through a visiting student program at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. This plan comes in response to uncertain U.S. visa policies, which have raised concerns about the academic future of many foreign students, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

The program will enable affected students who have completed at least one year studying in the U.S. to take courses that are jointly taught by faculty from both institutions. Harvard Kennedy School Dean Jeremy Weinstein emphasized the importance of ensuring that students receive a high-quality education despite geopolitical challenges. He stated, “With these contingency plans in place, HKS will be able to continue to provide a world-class public policy education to all of our students,” according to India Times and India Times.

The institution is preparing to offer both remote learning options, including online courses with in-person sessions held in various global cities, as well as the opportunity for students to spend the academic year in Toronto. This hybrid model is designed to allow students to earn a Harvard degree while navigating the challenges of current visa restrictions. However, these plans will only be implemented if there is enough demand from students facing entry barriers, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

This new arrangement marks the first international student backup strategy following the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's attempt to strip Harvard of its ability to enroll international students, a move blocked by a federal judge. Over the past five years, 52% of students at the Kennedy School have been international, reflecting the school's diverse student body, according to India Times.