International Arizona
During the 2006/07 academic year, Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe hosted 4,062 students from outside the U.S., earning a place as one of the 20 most popular educational institutions among international students. ASU enters the top 20 for the first time at #14, with international students representing nearly 8 percent of the student body, according to Open Doors 2007: Report on International Educational Exchange from the Institute of International Education.
"We're making every commitment to increase the number of our degree-earning international students in our population here at the university," said Anthony (Bud) Rock, ASU's vice president for global engagement. "Our ASU students are, in many ways, ambassadors for the American experience as they exchange information and views with their classmates from other countries. At the same time, international students bring unique perspectives that help ASU students refine their thinking about the world in which they live."
The number of international students studying in the U.S. during 2006/07 increased by 3 percent to more than 582,000 students represented the first significant increase in enrollments since 2001/02. The number of international students enrolling for the first time at a college or university also rose 10 percent compared to the previous year.
"Vigrous efforts at the national, state and campus levels have combined to produce this rebounding of international student enrollments," explains Allan E. Goodman, President and CEO of the Institute of International Education. "Given increased global competition for talent, as well as expanded higher education options in many of the leading sending countries, America needs to continue its proactive steps to insure that our academic doors remain wide open, and that students around the world understand that they will be warmly welcomed."
The total number of international students studying in Arizona increased 3.9 percent to 9,993 in 2006/07. Of those, 4,572 are studying in the Phoenix area. The largest number of students enrolled in Arizona universities and colleges are from India (1,647), followed by China (1,090). This is similar to the national trend, where India and China rank #1 and #2 for countries of origin for international students in the U.S. Only 601 international students enrolled in Arizona institutions hail from Mexico, which ranks #7 nationally.
The number of American students studying abroad through institutions in Arizona has also increased from 3,238 in 2004/05 to 3,770 in 2005/06, the latest year for which statistics are available.
Studying abroad, whether as a foreign student in the U.S. or an American in another country, is a life-changing experience. It is not, however, an experience without risks. Notably, an American student studying in Italy is being held on suspicion while Italian authorities investigate the murder of her British roommate. The Hindustan Times reports that between 2004 and 2007 more than 100 Indians studying or working abroad were attacked, as well. This number is somewhat misleading as it includes workers in war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan. These are extreme and rare examples of the worst that can happen.
Perhaps, if more students had the opportunity to learn about other cultures first hand, the world would be a different place. As long as they act like responsible adults rather than kids on their first trip alone.
