Among the variables affected by the global economic downturn, one in particular has international educators worried: Will students in other countries be less willing to go abroad to seek degrees?

A report in The Australian today suggests that, so far, the crisis has not dampened students’ interest in overseas study.

According to figures the newspaper obtained from 20 of Australia’s 39 universities, where the academic year starts in February, 16 reported international-enrollment increases of 10 to 15 percent over last year.

An unidentified administrator noted that in Asia, where most of Australia’s foreign students come from, education is something for which families are willing to sacrifice.

Whether that means good news for American colleges this fall remains to be seen. The value of the Australian dollar has declined against key Asian currencies in the past 12 months, while the U.S. dollar has gotten stronger against the Indian rupee but weaker against the Chinese yuan.

Australia’s higher-education system enrolls about 178,000 foreign students. By comparison, nearly 624,000 foreign students enrolled in American colleges last year. —Beth McMurtrie