¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ ranks third in the nation for study abroad among public doctoral universities
By Margo Kissell, university news and communications
¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ’s rate of study abroad for undergraduates ranks third in the U.S. among public doctoral universities, according to the latest Open Doors report released Monday, Nov. 18.
¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ moved up a spot from last year’s fourth place ranking based on rate of study abroad during the 2017-2018 academic year, the Institute of International Education reports.
¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ had 1,594 students earn study abroad credit out of 3,414 undergraduate degrees conferred, for a rate of 46.7%. Among all public and private universities, that places ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ 32nd.
¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ student Pierce Kaufman wears a Love & Honor shirt while exploring the streets of the small fishing village Tai O in Hong Kong (submitted photo).
Including graduate students, the Open Doors list of total number of students who study abroad places ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ 27th nationally with 1,958 students.
Karla Guinigundo, director of global partnerships for Global Initiatives at ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ, said 73 more undergraduate students studied abroad in 2017-2018 than the previous academic year.
“Winter term enrollment was strong in 2018 in part due to program offerings such as a unique winter-spring term learning experience during the Winter Olympic Games held in South Korea,” led by Sooun Lee, professor of information systems and analytics, Guinigundo said.
She noted 75% of ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ students who go abroad do so on faculty-led programs or through the ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ .
Other top destinations for ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ students include Spain, Italy, Australia, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Belize, Peru and France.
The high percentage of students traveling in faculty-led programs demonstrates an exceptional institutional commitment to study abroad, Guinigundo said. She believes having such strong faculty-led programs is one of the key reasons ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ received the 2019 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization.
“We are fortunate at ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ to have a large contingent of faculty in all academic divisions excited to lead programs abroad and staff across the institution — from academic advisers to financial aid advisers — who are committed to helping students achieve their goal of studying abroad.”
The Open Doors report is released during International Education Week.
