International Education Week
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" - Nelson Mandela We just finished the 11th Annual International Education Week (IEW), an initiative spearheaded by the US Departments of State and Education. Hundreds of events around the world have been organized to support the IEW’s mission to celebrate the benefits of studying abroad and international exchange for students and people around the world.
pgebreakAs the world becomes more globalized, cultural exchange is becoming more important in fostering international understanding and encouraging collaboration across borders. Over the last decade, the number of students studying abroad have greatly increased reflecting the growing value placed on international experience. In conjunction with the IEW,
Open Doors released its Open Doors 2010 Report yesterday highlighting these figures on American students studying abroad and international students studying in the US in particular. Some key facts from the report: • In 2009/10, there were 690,923 international students in the U.S. (an increase of 2.9% over the previous year).
• In 2008/09, the number of U.S. students who studied abroad for academic credit was 260,327. This number has more than doubled over the past decade! • Non-traditional destinations are becoming more popular among students who go abroad: 19 out of 25 destinations are to countries where English is not a primary language and 14 of the top 25 destinations are outside Europe. • 52% of all international students in the US come from China, India, South Korea, Canada and Taiwan. At Tripping, we are eager to encourage Trippers to participate in this global celebration by sharing your own experiences in cultural exchange with the community or by hosting or meeting up with another Tripper this week. You can also visit the IEW’s website to find out more about events that may be taking place near you! - Bianca
