The Changing U'S' Student and the Implications for Study Abroad Programs

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The Changing U.S. Student and the Implications
for Study Abroad Programs

• NAFSA ConferenceMay 29, 2008
• William L. GertzPresident CEOAmerican
  Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS)

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Some things are changing
U.S. Students Studying Abroad1985/86 to 2005/06

• While relatively few students are studying
  abroad, the number is growing.
• 224,000 in 2005/06 vs 48,000 in 1985/06

Source IIE White Paper (2007), IIE Open Doors
(2007)
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Some things are changing

• While the top four countries remain the same, the
  mix is changing.
• The percentage of U.S. students studying abroad
  in Europe is down 7 in a decade.
• The number of students studying in the Middle
  East increased by 31, Asia by 26, Africa by 19
  and Latin America by 14 over the past decade.

Study Abroad Destinations2004/05 vs 2005/06
Source IIE White Paper (2007), IIE Open Doors
(2007)
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Some things are changing
Fields of Study2005/06

• While the Liberal Arts major is the norm among
  study abroad students, Business Management
  majors increased from 14-18 over the past decade.

Social Sciences
Other
Business Management
Arts
Foreign Languages
Humanities
Source IIE White Paper (2007), IIE Open Doors
(2007)
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• Study abroad students are still predominately
• Female (66)
• In Junior Year (36)
• Caucasian (83)
• This is despite our best efforts to diversify and
  the change college demographics
• 1971 90 fulltime Freshmen are white
• 2006 70.5 fulltime Freshmen are white

Source Inside Higher Education - April 9, 2007
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• Student attitudes are changing
• They want to study, travel, make friends, make
  more friends, read everything (superfast), take
  in all movies, listen to every hot band, keep up
  with everyone they have ever know.
• Mark EdmondsonProfessor of EnglishUniversity of
  Virginiaas quoted to theChronicle of Higher
  Education

Source Chronicle of Higher Education
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What it means
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Looking towards the future