DATA ANALYSIS AS A PREDICTION TOOL OF THE NUMBER OF FOREIGN STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY (ON THE EXAMPLE OF AUTOMOBILE FACULTY)

Organization of foreign students’ education is crucial for a sustainable educational process at a university. However, external factors like geopolitical processes, legislation, and reputational costs can make it difficult to predict enrollment. A study analyzed data on foreign students' enrollment from 2015 to 2024. Global events, such as the pandemic and sanctions, have had the most significant impact on bachelor student recruitment. Master's programs remain stable, suggesting that foreign students prefer to continue their studies at Russian universities. The demand for technical specialties is increasing, but enrollment in narrow-profile specialties remains relatively unchanged. A correlation between first-year students and those who completed preliminary Russian language courses was found. The analysis of data helps identify current trends and build long-term forecasts in the recruitment of foreign citizens, allowing universities to adjust their work optimally.