4:02 p.m., Nov. 21, 2008----The University of Delaware is named among the top 20 doctoral research institutions and among the top three public institutions in that category in terms of undergraduate participation in study abroad.

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In its latest report on international education exchange, Open Doors 2008, the Institute of International Education (IIE) also ranks UD among the top four doctoral research institutions nationwide for short-term study abroad programs.

The release of the report this week coincided with UD's celebration of International Education Week, Nov. 17-21.

About 42 percent of UD students will have participated in at least one study abroad program before they graduate, said Lesa Griffiths, director of the Center for International Studies and associate provost for international programs.

“We are among the top five institutions--in terms of student numbers--among all research institutions (public and private) for the faculty-led, short-term programs,” Griffiths said. “This is a tribute to the creativity and dedication of UD's faculty. They are designing innovative, challenging academic programs that make it possible for students from all majors to have a global studies experience.”

According to Open Doors 2008, the number of U.S. students studying abroad increased by 8 percent to a record 241,791. The number of American students receiving academic credit for their study abroad has increased 150 percent in the past decade, from fewer than 90,000 students in the 1995-96 academic year.

“American students are more frequently choosing nontraditional study abroad destinations. The number of U.S. students studying in China, Argentina, South Africa, Ecuador and India increased by more than 20 percent over the previous year,” IIE stated in a news release. “This increase is fueled in part by an increase in new program opportunities, partnerships between higher education institutions in the United States and abroad, and to a range of fields and program durations to accommodate the needs of an increasingly diverse study abroad population.”

Previously, UD received the 2006-07 Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education in the category of Internationalizing the Campus from IIE. Then-UD President David P. Roselle accepted the prestigious award during a presentation at the United Nations.

Article by Jerry Rhodes