Leading the many, considering the few: University presidents’ perspectives on international students during COVID-19

The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world we live in in the most invasive ways. Higher education institutions around the globe are faced with new emerging questions about successful leadership, particularly when it comes to the international campus population in times of crisis. Supported by Grounded Theory, this comparative case study illuminates how university presidents from five different countries are informed in their perceptions of the international students on their campuses during the COVID-19 crisis. The results of the study will produce policy implications informing how higher education leaders can navigate global crises while simultaneously best serving their international student populations.