Disabilities Dont Deter Study Abroad

In this year's Open Doors Report, IIE reported for the first time the numbers of students with disabilities studying abroad. During the 2006-2007 academic year, more 1,000 students with disabilities from 116 U.S. colleges studied abroad for credit, comprising 2.6% of all study abroad students. It is interesting to note that students with disabilities normally comprise 9% of students in American universities.

Since this is the first year that this type of data was collected, IIE is hoping that in future years they will get a higher response rate. After attending a session on opportunities for students with disabilities to go abroad during last year's NAFSA Region XI conference in Burlington, VT, I viewed an incredible film called Making It Happen: Study Abroad for Students with Disabilities, which can be viewed online here.

To learn more, visit The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE).

USA Today: US Students Studying Abroad in Increasing Numbers

Just after my last post highlighting USA Today's article on the importance of study abroad in a college education, USA Today released another article showcasing the newly released statistics from the Institute of International Education's annual Open Doors report, and the results propel the growing trend of American students studying abroad. Not only are the mere number of students going abroad increasing, but the trends in locations are evolving to an increasingly diverse array of global destinations.

The report says that, "241,791 U.S. students went abroad for academic credit in 2006-07, up 8% from the previous year, and nearly 150% more than a decade earlier." Other highlights include:

- Europe is still the most popular destination for students (with 57% of students Europe-bound)

- The fastest-growing destinations this year were South Africa (28%), China (25.3%), Argentina (26.2%), Equador (29.6%), and India (24.2%).

- The majority of students (55%) are studying abroad in eight weeks or less, with 4.4% of students spending a full academic year abroad.

- Finally, what exactly are students studying while they're off to Europe and Equador? Social sciences, business and management, and humanities were the most common fields of study.

The article also discussed the pending Paul Simon Bill, which would increase the number of American students studying abroad to over 1 million in the next ten years. Proponents of the bill argued that the US, ""cannot conduct itself effectively in a competitive international environment when our most educated citizens lack minimal exposure to, and understanding of, the world beyond U.S. borders." I could not agree more. Let's get our students abroad!

USA Today: Study Abroad Enhances Learning

USA Today recently released an article stating what those in the international education field have known all along: Study abroad significantly adds to students' learning and overall college experience. Along with community service and internships, the USA Today article particularly praises programs that "immerse students in settings where they can't help but rethink assumptions and mature as learners."

This notion supports the findings of Joshua McKeown at SUNY Oswego, who recently conducting a research study exploring the greater impact of study abroad. McKeown found that the largest effect on intellectual development was found in students who had never previously been out of the country for more than two weeks, dubbing his results the "first time effect."

The resulting changes that study abroad prompts in global perspective, maturity, and awareness are undeniable. One student from University of Dallas, a Roman Catholic school with a religious study abroad program in Rome, was cited in the USA Today article stating that, "You can look around campus and tell who's been to Rome just by the maturity with which they carry themselves."

However, it is also somewhat unfortunate that the USA Today piece separates the importance of internships, community service, and study abroad as if they are mutually exclusive. Many successful programs are combining all three components, providing global citizenship through interactive cultural field work along with pre-professional skills through foreign internship placements. Students should consider these aspects of a program when researching options, as the ability to integrate with locals in their foreign destination as well as exposure to the local economy and job market provide invaluable insights and growth.

1 Week, 2 Conferences, 3 Founders, & 4 Quesadillas...

What a week! Adam and I attended the NAFSA region XI conference in New Haven, followed by a weekend of Abroad101 strategizing in Manhattan with Mark and the NAFSA region X conference in Brooklyn. The NAFSA conferences always provide a wonderful opportunity to meet such a diverse range of people in the study abroad field, and both regionals this year included excellent networking and even a chocolate fountain!

Me and Penny Presenting "Web 2.0 is Your Friend: Using Social Media to Connect, Inform, and Promote"
Adam working away in Brooklyn to constantly improve the website

Thanks to all of you who attended my Web 2.0 Social Media sessions in New Haven and Brooklyn. I get so excited about the potential for bringing technology to study abroad, and the sessions were a lot of fun. Penny Schouten, my co-presenter, also has a lot of experience in social media and with our powers combined we hope that you can utilize a lot of the resources in your everyday lives.

The Exposition Hall in Brooklyn
Some Bridge in Brooklyn (apparently it's famous)

Some other highlights of the week:

- Viewing the election results at The Playwright Bar in New Haven
- Sharing Ethiopian food with 15 other Region XI members
- Hearing 5 languages spoken at this dinner (international education = fun multi-lingual dining)
- Single-handedly supporting the restaurant at the Brooklyn Marriott through our repeat-order of the chicken quesadillas
- Adam fixing the TV in said restaurant, after being told by the waitress that it would be "impossible"
- Having people say, "Oh, Abroad101, I've heard of that!"

We look forward to seeing our new and old friends alike in the upcoming months, and hopefully we can reconvene at the May conference in LA!

Until next time,

Mike, Adam, and Mark