The University’s efforts toward promoting international education are being recognized in a national research project. The campus is one of only two public research universities in the nation selected for a new research project called “Forging New Connections: A Study Linking International Strategies for Student Learning Outcomes.”
The American Council on Education, which is conducting the project, chose the University from among 752 institutions of higher education that responded to an ACE survey in 2001. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is the other research university chosen for the project.
Eight institutions in total will participate in the study, which aims to help colleges implement strategies to broaden their international dimensions, according to a press release.
Todd Lundgren, assistant to the associate vice president of International Programs, said the selection recognized the University’s work toward developing an integrated international system during the past several years.
“It’s a huge honor,” he said.
To qualify, schools must have strong international curricula, study abroad programs and services for international students, he said.
“The schools that were chosen had to demonstrate the international nature of their schools across the board,” Lundgren said.
According to a statement from the University’s Office of International Programs, ACE recognized the University as “one of the most active research universities in the country in advancing internationalization in a wide variety of areas, including offering on-campus student and faculty opportunities, articulating a commitment to internationalization and providing experiences abroad.”
Laura Siaya, assistant director of ACE’s Center for Institutional and International Initiatives, is the project’s principal investigator. She led a team that reviewed the University programs, conducted focus groups with a random sample of students and visited the campus last November.
The final phase of research will be a Web survey in the spring of all full-time University undergraduates who are U.S. citizens, Lundgren said.
According to the Office of International Programs’ statement, the survey will determine whether undergraduates are aware of internationalization efforts and how they make use of available programs.
Lundgren said the researchers hope to publish the project results to coincide with International Education Week in the fall.
The University has a variety of resources that cater to international interests. Apart from an International Studies Program and language programs, many other departments offer some classes with an international focus. The University also has a large study abroad program; students can select from more that 80 overseas programs and study in more than 50 countries, according to the Office of International Programs Web site. During the 2002-03 school year, 775 students participated in study abroad programs.
In addition, the University currently has 1,272 international students from 86 countries.
Desiree Wright, an international studies graduate student, said that the University’s efforts are evident in some departments.
“I think International Studies has made strong efforts in building international relationships,” she said.
However, she said other departments still need to embrace the internationalization process more fully. She said some teachers could make their teaching more inclusive of international perspectives and address cross-cultural issues.
Lundgren said he hopes the University’s international resources are attracting good students.
“We hope students are coming in part to U of O because they think the international curricula is strong,” he said.