International Education Week in Review

internationaleducationweek

Rebecca Grappo was recently invited to be a keynote speaker for International Education Week at the University of Central Florida, where she spoke about the importance of the growing number of U.S. students studying abroad in college.

The keynote address came in the lead up to news from the US Open Doors 2016 U.S. Study Abroad that the number of U.S. college students studying abroad for credit is larger than ever. The most recent report showed that some 10 percent of U.S. graduates now choose to study abroad, with numbers for the 2014-2015 year up some 3 percent from the preceding year. The previous year-on-year growth was a remarkable 5.2%.

Rebecca spoke of the significance of this trend and its importance both from a global perspective and a professional one.

She stressed how critical it is for students to increase their understanding and participation in the global landscape and noted the popularity of programs such as the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, the US Middle East Partnership Initiative, and the hundreds of university student abroad programs.

Rebecca also remarked on the impact that such programs can have on one’s success, pointing to a recent study that found that almost 40% of companies surveyed missed international business opportunities because of a lack of internationally competent personnel.

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