In 2004-2005, 20.8 percent, of the University of Georgia’s graduating students participated in a study abroad experience, a 6.6 percent increase from 2003-2004 and the highest percentage in UGA history.
"A fuller understanding of the world is a critical characteristic of being a well educated person," said UGA President Michael F. Adams. "Increasing the number of UGA students involved in study abroad is one of the goals of our strategic plan, and I am pleased that we are having this level of success."
UGA ranks 9th in the nation in the number of students studying abroad as reported in the Institute of International Education Open Doors Report 2005. Although summer sessions and Maymester programs still attract the highest percentage of UGA students studying abroad, 78 percent in 2004-2005, the number of students participating in semester or yearlong programs or exchanges rose by 10 percent in the last year as recorded in UGA’s Office of International Education statistical database.
Judith Shaw, interim associate provost for international affairs, said, “Students benefit greatly from year-long and semester-long programs and exchanges, because they have the opportunity to discover more about the culture and immerse themselves in the language.”
She is particularly pleased to see more student participation in longer-term programs and exchanges. The increase coincides with the recommendations of the Task Force on General Education that students benefit more from longer-term, deep-immersion study abroad experiences.
Overall UGA’s statistics of international programs continue to grow:
-90 active study abroad programs operated in 2004-2005;
-34 exchanges had at least one outgoing UGA student participant;
-UGA students participated on a total of 181 external programs;
-Western Europe attracted the highest increase of students from 2003-2004 to 2004-2005; 104 more students traveled there (1049 versus 945 the year before);
-Western Europe and Latin America together continue to account for three quarters of all UGA students studying abroad, a trend consistent with national statistics.
UGA’s international programs continue to draw more attention and interest from both the students and faculty, according to Shaw. Though the university has faced budgetary cuts over the past few years, increases in participation in the study abroad programs’ persist, she said.
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