Number of American Students Studying Abroad Growing

As of 2007, the number of United States college students who are studying overseas has reached over 223,000, which is a notable 150% growth over the last ten years. Compared to the 1995 – 1996 figures which showed about 90,000 American students participating in international exchange programs, this was a significant increase and evidence of the success of the educational programs of the US government. These figures were reported by the US Institute of International Education (IIE).

The US government has constantly provided learning opportunities for its students, both locally and abroad. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes mentions that these international educational experiences are part of the government’s goal to foster cultural diversity and understanding among Americans.

Also, according to the Institute of International Education, the regions wherein the most number of American students go for their international studies are in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The IIE also presented increases in the number of students coming to these regions. In the Middle East and Asia, a 31% and 26% increase were noted. A 19% and 14% increase of international students was also found in Africa and Latin America.

Most of these students who study overseas are taking courses in social sciences, the humanities, and business administration. The length of stay of these American students ranges from short courses of about 2 months, to a semester or a full year.

Some of the notable international programs sponsored by the US government are the Fulbright US Student Program, the Gilman Scholarships, and the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI).

The Fulbright US Student Program was founded by former US Senator J. William Fulbright, and has been actively offering scholarships to American students since 1948. US students are given the opportunity to learn in over 144 participating countries in the Fulbright program. For almost 60 years, the program has given grants to over 100,000 US college students.

The Gilman Scholarships, named after former House Committee Chairman Benjamin Gilman, focuses on offering international educational opportunities to college students from minority communities or low-income families.

The National Security Language Initiative (NSLI) was launched in 2006 by President George Bush. This program integrates foreign language studies from kindergarten to college, focusing on critical languages like Arabic, Persian, Hindi, Chinese, and Russian, as well as other languages. The program aims to develop essential language skills among the students, which can be useful in the future.