EAST LANSING, Mich. — As study abroad programs continue to grow, U.S. colleges and universities must take a proactive approach to support this crucial component of higher education, according to a report released today by a national task force chaired by a Michigan State University vice president.
The report, convened by NAFSA: Association of International Educators, sets out 14 recommendations for the management of study abroad in four major categories: institutional commitment; infrastructure; resources; and clarity and accountability. Prepared by a panel of university presidents and provosts, the report is endorsed by six leading higher-education associations.
John Hudzik, task force chairperson and MSU’s vice president for global engagement and strategic projects, writes in the report that the number of students studying abroad for credit each year has grown from 84,000 to more than 220,000 in the past decade, and is poised to grow at an even faster rate in the coming years. Hudzik is also president-elect of NAFSA, a Washington, D.C.-based association that promotes international education.
“Two of the most critical issues,” Hudzik said, “are keeping it affordable and managing the growth in such a way that ensures high-quality educational programs that fit into the institution’s undergraduate experience.”
For three years in a row, MSU has led all public universities in study abroad participation, according to the Institute of International Education. During the 2006-07 academic year, 2,801 MSU students studied abroad.
Colleges and universities “vary substantially in the degree to which they have committed to the advancement of study abroad as part of their internationalization efforts,” Hudzik writes in the report.
“As study abroad continues to grow, and as demand for study abroad expands, it is the responsibility of institutional leadership to undertake a deliberate and proactive approach to developing and supporting this important component of the education of today’s college students,” he writes.
Among the report’s recommendations is one that calls for universities to retain “knowledgeable and experienced” personnel to run their study-abroad offices. Hudzik said MSU has had a professional study-abroad staff in place for more than 25 years.
Hudzik also said MSU is meeting the report’s other recommendations, which include promoting the health and safety of students studying abroad and keeping in place a “financially sustainable” plan to support the study abroad office.
Marlene Johnson, NAFSA executive director, said she expects the report will serve as a “key catalyst for discussions among campus leaders about how each institution can effectively integrate, sustain and strengthen study abroad.
“It sets out a strong road map for our continued collective work to advance study abroad that is transparently managed, pedagogically sound, appropriately financed, accessible and safe,” Johnson said.
Endorsing the NAFSA report are the American Association of Community Colleges, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the American Council on Education, the Association of American Universities, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges.
To view the full report, go to www.nafsa.org.
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Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach for more than 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 17 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem solving.