Appalachian remains 4th among master’s degree granting institutions for study abroad participation

View larger image — Student photos help document study abroad programs offered at Appalachian State University. One student juxtaposed a travel guide with an image of revolutionary Che Guevara on the cover with the same image on a building in Cuba. Another student captured the celebration of the Rose Monday Parade in Cologne, Germany. More students’ photos are online at https://www.facebook.com/IEWappstatephoto and will be on display in Plemmons Student Union Nov. 16-20.

Posted Nov. 16, 2015 at 10:44 a.m.

BOONE—The strength of Appalachian State University’s study abroad programs and student interest in living and learning in a different culture has placed the university near the top of rankings released Nov. 16 by the Institute of International Education.

Appalachian ranks 4th among the top 40 master’s degree granting colleges and universities for the total number of students in a study abroad program in 2013-14, the year for which the data is compiled.

Appalachian had 1,010 students study abroad that year, up from 962 in 2012-13.

In addition, Appalachian ranks 4th among 20 master’s degree granting institutions for students participating in short-term programs, those that are one to six weeks long. In 2013-14, a total of 822 students participated in short-term study abroad.

The data appears in IIE’s 2015 Open Doors Report.

“The success of our study abroad programs is largely due to great faculty and staff involvement,” said Dr. Jesse Lutabingwa, associate vice chancellor for international programs. “I commend them for their continued commitment and interest to provide education abroad experiences for our students.”

The growth in the number of students participating in study abroad experiences is expected to continue, Lutabingwa said. “This year we received 80 faculty-led program proposals of which 77 were approved. This is the largest number of proposals ever submitted. I also want to thank the staff in the Office of International Education and Development who work tirelessly to advise students and help them find education abroad opportunities that meet their needs.”

Appalachian offers study abroad in many different countries around the world including, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Indonesia, Peru, Russia, Korea, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam.

Enrollment in study abroad has grown consistently since 660 students participated in 2008-09.

The university is celebrating International Education Week Nov. 16-20 with a variety of events and programs on campus. Visit http://international.appstate.edu/calendar/events/mega/iew for more information.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the state of North Carolina, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls more than 19,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.