International Student Week

A record number of U.S. students are studying abroad, reflecting the value of an international academic experience as preparation to live and work in a global society. According to the Open Doors 2009 survey, the number of Americans studying abroad increased by 8.5% to 262,416 in the 2007/08 academic year. This increase builds on two decades of steady growth and represents four times as many U.S. students than in 1987/88. The Institute of International Education publishes the annual Open Doors report with support from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

“Today more than ever before, study abroad can help our students understand our interconnected world and participate productively in the global economy,” said Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith A. McHale. She added, “The State Department strongly supports study abroad through such programs as the Fulbright Program, which is sending its largest number ever of U.S. students abroad this year, and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, which in two years has doubled the number of U.S. undergraduates with financial need who will study abroad.”

Open Doors 2009 shows that the number of students to nearly all of the top twenty-five destinations increased, notably to destinations less traditional for study abroad: China, Ireland, Austria and India (up about 20% each), as well as Costa Rica, Japan, Argentina and South Africa (up nearly 15% each). While the four perennial leaders in hosting U.S. students remain the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and France, findings indicate that 15 of the top 25 destinations are now outside of Western Europe, and 19 are countries where English is not the primary language. Americans electing to study in Africa increased by 18%, in Asia by 17%, and in Latin America by 11%. http://opendoors.iienetwork.org.

A few interesting points can be gleaned from this report:

1. Academic standards in non-western societies have narrowed the gap to be competitive with established educational institutions. This could be the result of previous generations leaving their countries to study in the USA and elsewhere before returning to their homelands to contribute to higher academic standards;
2. The USA and UK are loosing their competitive edge in recruitment of top level students;
3. The world is getting smaller with English as a universal language emerging across the globe. Soon China will be the largest English speaking nation in the world;
4. Globalization is real. More companies are trading across borders and a foreign experience will enhance job opportunities;
5. The public education system is the USA does not accommodate this shift at all. IB programs and other international curricula are too far and between, leaving US students behind those of other countries.

An old Chinese proverb goes something like this, "A thousand miles travelled is better than 10,000 words read". It holds a lot of truth in our new world.