International Education’s Big Week: Fresh Statistics, Celebrations and Remarks from Obama
It’s a busy week for the field of international education, marked by the release of a major report, a celebration of the benefits of studying overseas and remarks by President Obama during his trip to China. The highlights include:
- The release of Open Doors 2009, an annual comprehensive study on American students studying abroad and international students studying in the United States.
- The celebrating of International Education Week 2009, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.
- A statement by President Barack Obama during his town hall meeting with college students in Shanghai on the United States’ commitment to dramatically expanding the number of American students who study abroad in China.
Open Doors 2009: More students “eager to study in newly popular study abroad destinations such as China, India and the Middle East”
Open Doors 2009, an annual study by the Institute of International Education, with funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, was released Monday and provides a big-picture look at the state of international education.
Based on the most recent statistics available, in this case for the 2007-2008 academic year, the report shows the number of U.S. students studying abroad increased 8.5% in 2007-2008 over the previous year to a record high total of 262,416. This total represents a four-fold increase from two decades ago.
While the report does not reflect the impact of the past year’s global economic turmoil on the field of international education, it does illustrate international education’s continued emphasis on the significant role of study abroad in producing graduates with the skills necessary for a more inter-connected world.
“More students are eager to study in newly popular study abroad destinations such as China, India, and the Middle East,” said Allan E. Goodman, President and CEO of the Institute of International Education. “The language and cultural skills they acquire along with their academic experience will have a profound effect on their lives and careers.”
It is important for colleges and universities to make it possible for students from diverse backgrounds and in diverse fields to take advantage of study abroad opportunities, Goodman added.
Other points of interest from Open Doors 2009:
- The United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and France are the perennial leaders in hosting U.S. students.
- Fifteen of the top 25 destinations, however, are outside of Europe and 19 are countries where English is not the primary language.
- Students electing to go to Asia increased 17%.
- Australia is the 6th most popular destination and saw a 3% increase.
- About 40% of students studying abroad choose mid-length programs of a semester.
- About 56% choose short-term programs including a summer, January or any program 2 to 8 weeks long.
- Leading fields of study of are the social sciences (21.5% of those studying abroad), business and management (20%), humanities (13%), fine or applied arts (8%), physical/life sciences (7%), foreign languages (6%), health sciences (4.5%), education (4%), engineering (3%), math/computer science (2%) and agriculture (1%).
Obama This Week Announces Seven-Fold Expansion Of Number Of U.S. Students Studying Abroad In China
President Barack Obama, on his first presidential visit to China, spoke Monday to university students in Shanghai during a town-hall style meeting and voiced a commitment to dramatically expanding the number of U.S. students studying in China to 100,000.
Such growth would represent a more than seven-fold increase from the most recent totals of 13,165 U.S. students annually who study in China.
Excerpts from Obama’s speech (featured in the above video):
“To return to the proverb — consider the past. We know that more is to be gained when great powers cooperate than when they collide. That is a lesson that human beings have learned time and again, and that is the example of the history between our nations. And I believe strongly that cooperation must go beyond our government. It must be rooted in our people — in the studies we share, the business that we do, the knowledge that we gain, and even in the sports that we play. And these bridges must be built by young men and women just like you and your counterparts in America.”
“That’s why I’m pleased to announce that the United States will dramatically expand the number of our students who study in China to 100,000. These exchanges mark a clear commitment to build ties among our people, as surely as you will help determine the destiny of the 21st century. And I’m absolutely confident that America has no better ambassadors to offer than our young people. For they, just like you, are filled with talent and energy and optimism about the history that is yet to be written.”
Print
Related posts:
