The George Washington University’s Office for Study Abroad was recognized among the top 25 university study abroad programs in the nation by the Institute of International Education (IIE).
The annual “Open Doors” report, released Monday, highlights universities that support the growing number of international students studying in the U.S. each year and offer opportunities for American undergraduate and graduate students to supplement their education through study abroad programs.
“We're very happy to see that GW continues to be a national leader in study abroad,” Robert Hallworth, director of the Office for Study Abroad, said. “The Office for Study Abroad exists to facilitate study abroad experiences for our students, and we work to continuously improve our processes and create opportunities for students to engage with their host communities.”
Donna Scarboro, associate provost for international programs, said, “We are particularly proud of the strong showing of GW participation in medium- and long-duration programs, as it speaks to the commitment and seriousness of our students’ engagement with the world.”
According to the IIE report, produced in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the number of international students studying in the U.S. is at a record high reaching nearly 820,000 students. American student participation in outbound study abroad has also risen to a record 283,000.
“International education promotes the relationship building and knowledge exchange between people and communities in the United States and around the world that are necessary to solve global challenges,” said Evan M. Ryan, assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs. “We encourage U.S. schools to continue to welcome more international students to their campuses and to do more to make study abroad a reality for all of their students,” he added.
Currently, the Office for Study Abroad at GW offers more than 350 approved semester and year-long study abroad options in more than 60 countries, including the GW Undergraduate Exchange Program, which promotes academic immersion through direct enrollment at 40 higher education partners worldwide and GW Study Centers. The centers accommodate approximately one quarter of the overall study abroad population each year in GW-managed programs in five countries.
Undergraduate and graduate students at GW can also participate in short-term study abroad programs lasting one to six weeks. The diverse programming provides students with scholarly insight and international experience led by GW faculty. The university offers as many as 20 such programs annually for its students.
“In addition to traditional coursework, our students take part in internships and service-learning abroad,” Mr. Hallworth said. “These international experiences help broaden our students' perspectives and develop intercultural skills that will serve them well in their careers.”