UE Again Ranks Among Top 10 in Study Abroad
Published: November 16, 2009
The University of Evansville’s Study Abroad program is once again among America’s elite, according to the nation’s leading source on the subject.
Information for the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) annual Open Doors report was released today, ranking the top Study Abroad programs in the nation. Among Master’s Degree-granting institutions, the University of Evansville ranks 9th in the nation in Study Abroad participation, with 58.3 percent of graduates having studied abroad during their time on campus.
In all, 330 members of the graduating class of 2008 studied abroad while at UE, with the majority of those spending at least a semester outside the country.
“Everyone at the University of Evansville is extremely proud of our sustained excellence in the area of Study Abroad, as evidenced by once again placing among the top 10 in the IIE study,” said UE President Stephen Jennings. "The experiences our students gain from traveling and studying abroad – whether it is at our British campus, Harlaxton College, or anywhere else in the world – give our students a cultural awareness and well-rounded education that can’t be replicated in a traditional classroom.
"So we are very excited by this additional recognition, and by what it signifies to the University of Evansville and our students."
While the IIE report quantifies the tremendous Study Abroad opportunities UE offers its students, it does not recognize the opportunities UE offers students at other universities through its British campus, Harlaxton College.
Currently, UE has signed partnerships with 20 other colleges across America who send students to Harlaxton regularly.
“The University of Evansville truly does offer students – both at UE and at our partner institutions – the opportunity to get a truly global education, and our ranking in the IIE Open Doors report illustrates,” said Earl Kirk, director of UE’s Study Abroad program. “But, while the recognition is nice, the most important thing we learn from these distinctions is that our students truly are receiving the kind of life-transforming educational experiences that our Study Abroad program is designed to offer.
“These experiences are part of our mission to prepare students to engage the world as informed, ethical, and productive citizens.”
While the IIE’s annual publication, Open Doors – where the rankings eventually will be published – notes that study abroad is on the rise nationally, UE still remains well above the national average.
"At UE, we have many parents and students who say the chance to study abroad was a decisive factor in their choosing UE,” Kirk said. “I think it teaches us to be more open-minded, and to listen to the viewpoints of others – we see things in different ways when we have the chance to study other cultures up close.
"That’s why we have a very strong institutional commitment to study abroad – and for that, I’d like to express my thanks to the faculty and staff, who work very hard to support these programs."
