The Role of Study Abroad in Global Education
In order to give our children the best
opportunity to succeed in this increasingly
interconnected world, we need to provide them
with opportunities to learn about and interact
with the world beyond their borders. Educators
are on the front line here and play a significant
role in bringing the world into classrooms,
often as early as pre-school. Teachers are
critical channels to mindset, and they are
powerful motivators when it comes to inspiring
students to pursue any and all types of global
study be it through a classroom project in
second grade or a study abroad program
in college.
We need teachers to inspire and prepare more
students to study abroad while in college. Now,
more than ever, international experience is one of
the most important components of a 21st century
education. The reasons for that are clear:
A Better Education
Global education supports critical thinking,
especially in terms of considering multiple
perspectives, strengthening analytical skills, and
assisting with open-ended, creative problem-
solving and reflection. With respect to foreign
language education, decades of research have
amply demonstrated the benefits, such as
academic progress in all subjects, advancing
abstract and creative thinking, enriching cognitive
development, promoting cultural awareness and
competency, and enhancing career opportunities.
Moreover, foreign language skills are essential for
national defense, intelligence, homeland security
and global economic opportunities.
In November 2012, the U.S. Department of
Education set out its international strategy for
2012-16, Succeeding Globally Through
International Education and Engagement, which is
its first-ever fully articulated international strategy
designed to improve the global competency of all
American students, adapt educational best practice
from other countries, and be more active in
“educational diplomacy” in order to “prepare
today’s youth, and our country more broadly, for a
globalized world, and to engage with the
international community to improve education.”
Economic Competitiveness and Jobs
The structural evolution of the global economy and
its effects on the U.S. economy mean that
tomorrow’s college graduates are just as likely to
work with people from as far away as Beijing and
Bangalore as they are with those from Boston or
Boise. The ability to work across cultures is no
longer a nice-to-have skill set for elite executives or
diplomats; every year it becomes more essential to
finding any job at all. Employers across all sectors
increasingly seek workers who have both cross-
cultural skills and cutting-edge technical skills.
Globalization brings with it the demand for a U.S.
workforce that both possesses knowledge of other
countries and cultures and is competent in
languages other than English.
National Security and Diplomacy
In order to build inclusive and prosperous
communities, the next generation must possess
knowledge, skills and cultural understanding that
can transcend the borders of our interconnected
world. Learning another language and culture and
having people-to-people interactions with those
outside the United States reminds us that we are
not alone. We share the world and its problems,
and we cannot solve them on our own. Global
problems require the global exchange of
knowledge to forge solutions through international
dialogue and collaboration.
In addition, global awareness also makes better
citizens and participants in our own democratic
process, as well as helps us understand and get
along with people from diverse backgrounds
across the United States.
The Value of Study Abroad
Studying abroad is one of the best ways to expand
a student’s immediate personal horizons and open
up a wealth of long-term professional opportunities.
Study abroad enables today’s students from all
backgrounds in all sectors to gain access to
international experiences that enable them to put
their global learning into practice. Learning how to
interact with people from other countries and
cultures will be essential for all careers, be they in
business, manufacturing, engineering,
 The Role of Study Abroad in Global Education
government, academia or not-for-profit. Study
abroad is basic training for the 21st Century.
The study abroad experience can:
• Play a critical role in developing the global
mindset needed to balance local and
international challenges;
• Provide an opportunity to appreciate different
cultures and solve problems while operating
in a different environment;
• Open students’ eyes to other perspectives
and ways of thinking about the world;
• Enhance proficiency in and practical
application of a second language;
• Strengthen adaptability, communication and
team-building skills; and enhance career
opportunities.
Study abroad is one of the best – and often the
only – ways students can acquire these global
skills. In addition, study abroad has been shown
to improve college graduate and retention rates.
Studies show that students who study abroad
have better grades and graduate from college at
higher rates than students who do not study
abroad.
At the Institute of International Education, we
believe that study abroad should be an essential
component of a college degree. According to the
Open Doors Report on International and
Educational Exchange released by the Institute of
International Education (IIE) in November 2014
with support from the U.S. Department of State’s
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs,
289,000 American college students studied
abroad in 2012/13 either for academic credit or in
non-credit educational programs. That is less than
10% of the 2.6 million students who graduated
with associate or baccalaureate degrees last year.
Some U.S. institutions, particularly liberal arts
colleges, have been tremendously successful in
making study abroad a part of the academic
experience, with 36 colleges achieving
participation rates of 70% or more. But with 4,000
institutions across the United States, these are
the exception not the rule. In recent years, a
number of research universities, community
colleges and minority-serving institutions have
introduced innovative ways for their students to
study abroad. But many students in these
institutions are still missing out, and the study
abroad population does not reflect the diversity of
U.S. higher education as a whole.
In order to increase the number of students
studying abroad, preparation for it must begin
long before college, and at the very least in
secondary school. Studying abroad is not a one-
off adventure or trip, but a milestone along the
way to developing the all-important global mindset
necessary to thrive in today’s global world.
Building the Pipeline
Generation Study Abroad is a five year initiative
launched in March 2014 to double the number of
U.S. college students studying abroad by the end
of the decade. Generation Study Abroad
represents a major paradigm shift, one intended
to bring employers, governments, associations,
educators, and others into the discussion and to
both build on these best practices and find new
ways to extend international opportunities to those
who are not currently taking part. Generation
Study Abroad is setting a target of identifying at
least 1,000 high school teachers who pledge to
make their students aware of study abroad
opportunities in college. The efforts of teachers
are essential to building a pipeline of students
who will go to college with the expectation of
making study abroad a productive part of their
college experience.
About the Institute of International Education
The Institute of International Education is a world
leader in the international exchange of people and
ideas. An independent non-for-profit organization
founded in 1919, IIE designs and implements
program of study and training for students,
educators, young professionals and trainees from
all sectors with funding from government
agencies, foundations, and corporations. IIE also
conducts policy research and program
evaluations, and provides advising and
counseling on international education and
opportunities abroad.