“Multi-dimensional.” “Insightful.” “Eye-opening.” “Indescribable.” “Transformational.”
The Institute of International Education (IIE) has recently launched the Generation Study Abroad initiative with the goal of sending 600,000 U.S. students abroad each year by 2019. According to the Open Doors 2014 data, the rate of increase of study abroad participation has slowed to only 2%. The initiative aims to increase this rate to at least 14.5% per annum by the end of the decade.
“Globalization is changing the way the world works, and employers are increasingly looking for workers who have cross-cultural competence and cutting-edge technical skills.” -IIE
The current challenge as highlighted by IIE includes the following points:
- International experience is one of the most important components of a 21st century education.
- Less than 10% of U.S. students study abroad.
- Globalization is changing the way the world works, and employers are increasingly looking for workers who have international skills and experience.
This video serves as inspiration in their current mission to encourage more students to study abroad! A handful of previous study abroad program participants share the professional and academic skills they acquired through going abroad. You can be next!