Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sundubuman]

from the Institute of International Education




U.S. STUDY ABROAD INCREASES BY 9.6%, CONTINUES RECORD GROWTH

More interest in non-traditional destinations; study abroad in China up by 90%


WASHINGTON D.C., November 14, 2005 - With a growing recognition of the importance of international experience, U.S. students are heading abroad in record numbers. The number of American students studying abroad for academic credit increased by 9.6% in 2003/04, building on the previous year's 8.5% increase. This surge in interest brings the total number of U.S. students abroad to a record 191,321, according to Open Doors 2005, the annual report on international education published by the Institute of International Education with funding from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Findings from the report will be discussed at a press briefing on November 14th at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, in conjunction with the nationwide observance of International Education Week. (See www.opendoors.iienetwork.org for additional statistics and analysis from Open Doors 2005).

Although U.S. study abroad has been steadily increasing over the past few decades, the 9.6% increase reported for 2003/04 is the latest evidence of the greater importance of a study abroad experience in the post-9/11 world. Since the academic year 2000/01, the number of U.S. students studying abroad has gone up by almost 20%. In 2003/04, 61% of all U.S. students abroad studied in Europe (with 46% of the total going to the leading four destinations, all of which are in Western Europe.) However, there were significant increases in the number of students going to other host countries, including several nations in which English is not the primary language.

"I am pleased that American students are studying abroad, which signals their keen interest in learning more about the people and nations beyond our borders," said Dina Habib Powell, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. "Department of State initiatives such as the Fulbright Program and Gilman Scholarship Program are at the forefront in helping American study abroad participants obtain the skills and experience they need for leadership and responsible action in our interdependent world."

According to IIE President Allan E. Goodman, "Many U.S. campuses now include international education as part of their core educational mission, recognizing that increasing the global competence among the next generation is a national priority and an academic responsibility. To encourage more U.S. students to strengthen their language and intercultural skills, as well as their ability to collaborate across borders, business leaders need to demonstrate the economic value of study abroad by rewarding international experience in their hiring and advancement practices."

Study abroad in non-traditional destinations is expanding rapidly, especially to countries where American students see potential career opportunities. Of particular note are large increases in the number of Americans studying in China and India, two countries of growing economic importance to the United States. Study abroad in China increased by a dramatic 90% (4,737, up from 2,493 in 2002/03), making China the 9th-leading host destination for American students, up from #12 the previous year, while the number of students going to India increased by 65% to 1,157.

The United Kingdom continues to be the leading destination for U.S. students (32,237, up 2%) followed by Italy, with a very strong increase of 16%, to 21,922. The remaining "top ten" host destinations saw increases in the range of 5 to 7%: Spain (20,080, up 6%), France (13,718, up 5%), Australia (11,418, up 7%), Mexico (9,293, up 6%), Germany (5,985, up 7%), Ireland (5,198, up 6%) and Costa Rica (4,510, up 5%), with the exception of China's 90% increase, described above.

The dramatic increase in study abroad enrollment in China is an encouraging example of the rebound - and continued growth - in study abroad in East Asia following the SARS epidemic, which closed down many programs in Spring and Summer 2003. In 2003/04, overall U.S. study abroad in Asia (13,213) increased by 36%, with American student numbers in China exceeding pre-SARS levels (4,737, up 90%), and increases in students going to Japan, (3,707, up 7%), Korea (879, up 19%), Hong Kong (487, up 6%), and Taiwan (195, up 32%). However, even with all of these increases, only 7% of all Americans studying abroad selected Asia for their overseas academic experience.

Open Doors 2005 data show that among the leading 20 destinations for study abroad in 2003/04, all but two saw increases. The two that declined -- Austria (down 13%) and Netherlands (down 6%) were in Western Europe; of the six destinations with double-digit increases, all but one (Italy) were outside of Western Europe. Study abroad in European countries increased by a total of 6% this year to 116,446, with a 6% increase in students going to Western Europe (110,948) and an increase of 10% in students going to Eastern Europe (5,498), including significant increases in Russia (up 18% to 1,797), Hungary (up 16% to 654), and the Czech Republic (up 5% to 2,089). The number of students going to Oceania remained very strong (up 11% to 14,113), due to the continued popularity of English-speaking host nations Australia (up 7% to 11,418) and New Zealand (up 24% to 2,369).

The 2003/04 academic year also saw increased U.S. study abroad interest in destinations throughout the developing world. The number of students going to Africa increased 18% to 5,699. South Africa remained one of the 20 leading host nations worldwide, with an increase of 26% to 2,009, and there were significant gains (78%) in the numbers of students going to North Africa, especially Egypt (573, up 89%) and Morocco (up 56% to 298), although these large percentage increases reflected small base numbers. Increases in the number of students going to Cuba (2,148, up 46%), Chile (2,135, up 10%), Ecuador (1,678, up 7%), Brazil (1,554, up 16%), and Argentina (1,315, up 52%), contributed to an overall increase of 9% in the total number of students going to Latin America (29,053, or about 15% of all study abroad students).

In 2003/04, the small number of Americans studying in the Middle East rose by 62% to 1,050, based primarily on a resurgence of students going to Israel (up 96% to 665), which hosts the most U.S. students in the region. There were also large percentage increases in the very small number of students going to Jordan (65, up 124%), Lebanon (23, up 64%) and the United Arab Emirates (20, up 67%). The number of students going to Turkey declined by 12% to a total of 200.

Open Doors 2005 data show that American students continue to study abroad in larger numbers but for shorter time periods, with a continued decline in popularity of traditional semester and year-long programs. Only 6% of students who studied abroad did so for a full academic year (compared to 14% a decade ago in 1993/94), while 38% studied abroad for a semester. The majority (56%) of U.S. students elected Summer, January term, and other programs of less than one semester. These short-term programs have played an important role in increasing the popularity of study abroad, offering international study opportunities to students who might otherwise have been unable to afford to participate in traditional-length programs.

Open Doors 2005 reports that 26 U.S. campuses, primarily large research institutions, awarded academic credit for study abroad last year to more than 1,200 of their students. New York University sent the most students abroad again this year (2,475), followed by Michigan State University (moving up to #2 with 2,269), University of California-Los Angeles (2,034), University of Texas at Austin (2,011), Penn State University Park Campus (new this year to the top ten list with 1,874), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1,657), University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (1,644), University of Wisconsin-Madison (1,609), University of Georgia (1,595), and University of Arizona (1,591).

However, many smaller institutions report sending a much higher proportion of their students abroad. Open Doors 2005 also provides data on study abroad participation, and lists those campuses that send very high proportions of their students abroad for some period during their undergraduate career. The top ten campuses, each sending more than 40% of their students abroad, are (in alphabetical order): Austin College, Carleton College, Centre College, Elon University, Grace College and Theological Seminary, Lee University, Lewis and Clark College, Lynn University, St. Olaf College, and Wofford College.

[Pligganease]

zzzzt .... Does not compute .... zzzzt .... violation .... Stereotype537 .... ignorant .... zzzzt .... unworldly .... one language .... zzzzt

zzzt .... INITIATE SHUTDOWN ....

[mithridates]

It totally computes. Americans studying abroad are increasing, and international students studying in the US are decreasing at the same time. No surprise that China is the biggest influence there, and that with visa regulations a lot tougher in the US that people learning European languages are now choosing just to go to Europe.

[sundubuman]

I'm guessing some of the increase is attributable to "ethnic" Americans visiting Grandma for a semester. Among the 800 or so Americans quoted studying in Korea, how many are Kyobos?

But regardless, it's a good thing.

Of course Americans hardly need to leave the US to encounter other cultures, but still, it's all good.

[sundubuman]

oh, and sorry about the typo....record number....darn ds dipthong

[The Bobster]

[sundubuman]

the question is...

if Pusan became Busan


why haven't kyoPos become kyoBos?


think about it......


get back to us......

[mithridates]

����, not Ǫ��

����, not ����

[sundubuman]

fair enough...

[mithridates]

Oh, now I feel mean.

[BigBlackEquus]

[bucheon bum]

eh are you claiming that's what mith was saying or implying? If so, you obviously jumping to conclusions and don't know the man that well.

[keithinkorea]

If as these figures suggest more young Americans are studying abroad then that is indeed great news. I've met some really well travelled Americans and Canadians too and they seem a lot more open minded and often a lot less arrogant-ignorant than others. I think that goes for all nationalities.

Travelling helps people develop themselves. We can all learn from different aspects of other countries cultures. Xenophobia and other nasty things come from a foundation of ignorance and often a misplaced sense of superiority. We can all learn from others.

Experiencing different cultures not only gives you a huge opportunity to learn the value of other ways of life but also increases your appreciation of your own culture.

The only drawback to the 'global village' thing is the fact that aeroplanes create a lot of nasty pollution, apart from that it's one of the most valuable things you can do in terms of personal growth.