UA News

International study opportunities give UA students a global edge.

A decade ago, the U.S. Departments of State and Education initiated International Education Week in an effort to promote understanding and build support for international educational exchange. 

Today, according to the U.S. Department of State's International Education Week Website, more than 100 countries celebrate the event that, in 2007, helped to encourage 241,791 U.S. students to study abroad while welcoming another 623,805 international students from over 200 countries to study in the U.S.

Last week, the UA hosted its International Education Week celebration, which included more than 30 events sponsored by departments, colleges and clubs across campus. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer also issued an official proclamation endorsing the event.

The University of Arizona's Division of International Affairs leads the effort to help faculty develop programs that prepare students to live, work and compete in a global environment and to attract future leaders from abroad to study at the UA.

In 2009, the UA recorded its largest number of students studying abroad – 2,000 students. The UA also brought in 2,350 international students thanks to a unified effort and commitment the University is making to international study.

The UA recently appointed Mike Proctor to serve as the vice provost of outreach and global initiatives. In addition, the University has created a new committee, "UA Recruits," to focus on international recruitment. Collaboration on how to engage international alumni living abroad to help recruit top scholars to the UA is also being discussed through an international alumni initiative.

"The UA administration is embracing of the global aspect of the campus community and the staff, faculty and student engagement that the UA has around the world," said Dale LaFleur, assistant director of the Office of the Executive Director of International Affairs. The office oversees the UA's Offices of International Student Programs and Services, Study Abroad and Student Exchange, International Faculty and Scholars, and the U.S. Passport Application Acceptance Facility.  

The UA division of International Affairs is able to expand its reach and the opportunities available for students through the contacts of UA faculty, staff and students. These contacts provide a gateway to new research collaborations between institutions, recruitment opportunities to attract new students to the UA as well as connections to facilitate student research.

"Study abroad enrollments are increasing by 8 percent every year and so are the options. We have traditionally served humanities and social science students and very recently we have been able to diversify our offerings," said David Wright, director of the UA Study Abroad and Student Exchange program.

The program has added opportunities in plant sciences and soil and water resources, engineering and business among others.

"Study abroad options had included mainly European countries," Wright said, "now, there are opportunities in China, Tanzania, Namibia and South Africa. This also brings a broadening of the countries we work with and the choices available to students."

Currently, the UA Study Abroad and Student Exchange program has 150 programs in 50 countries and works with 170 professors to provide opportunities for UA students.

There were more than 40 tables on the UA Mall on Nov. 10 surrounded by UA students and faculty sharing their study abroad experience in an effort to recruit new students. Their enthusiasm was a testament to the diversity and good will of study abroad opportunities that 1,846 students took advantage of in 2008.

"Study Abroad is also an opportunity to develop global competency skills and to expand their critical thinking skills," Wright said. 

Gobal competency skills are essential in today's tough job market, Wright noted.

"Students today are facing jobs that demand global competency skills and students can get those skills by working and studying abroad," he said.

"For instance, our research abroad experience for engineering students connects students with a professor in a research lab in Munich – that lab has research scientists from all over the world," Wright also said. 

"In the lab, students learn research skills, such as how to set up a study, how to control for variables but on top of that, they are learning to maneuver through a global environment with issues in language, culture, and also learning the various approaches to research that can be found in a global environment," he added.

Students interested in study abroad opportunities should contact the Office of Study Abroad and Student Exchange at 520-626-9211 or sase@email.arizona.edu. The deadline to apply to study abroad in summer and fall 2010 is March 2010.

Photos are courtesy of the 2009 Study Abroad and Student Exchange photography contest.