February 26 marked the celebration of Study Abroad Day this year, reigniting efforts to promote international opportunities for students across the United States.
In an article published in The Hill, Fanta Aw, the executive director and CEO of NAFSA, and Melissa A. Torres, the president and CEO of The Forum on Education Abroad, highlighted the challenges faced in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. They noted that only 1% of all US college students participated in study abroad programs during the 2021/22 academic year, attributing this decline to the pandemic’s disruptive effects.
Efforts to address this issue include the extension of NAFSA’s Tamara H. Bryant Memorial Scholarship program and the introduction of a new initiative by IES Abroad aimed at enhancing access to study abroad opportunities.
According to the latest Open Doors data, over 188,000 US students engaged in study abroad programs for academic credit in the 2021/22 academic year, with Europe emerging as the predominant destination. However, this figure represents a significant decrease from the 347,099 US students who participated in such programs in 2018/19.
The Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program, established in 2005 with the ambitious goal of sending one million college students abroad annually by 2010, has yet to achieve its objective. Aw and Torres lamented the failure to surpass outbound numbers beyond 200,000, highlighting the negative implications for students, US competitiveness, and the country’s global standing.
Despite a strong desire among US college students to study abroad, with 72% expressing interest according to TerraDotta research, financial barriers remain a significant deterrent. Aw and Torres called on Congress to pass the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act, which aims to alleviate study abroad expenses by enabling students to utilize State Department funds.
However, there is debate within the industry regarding reliance solely on federal government support. William L. Gertz, chairman of AIFS, argued against depending solely on government initiatives, advocating for alternative funding solutions such as private and foundation funding efforts.
In response to the financial challenges faced by students, IES Abroad introduced the High-Impact Aid Commitment, targeting historically underrepresented and financially disadvantaged students. This initiative aims to simplify the financial aid process and provide additional support to students with the highest need.
BYU’s successful approach to study abroad, highlighted by its high number of participating students, is attributed to strategic targeting of students and efforts by faculty to develop diverse international programs. Lynn Elliott, associate director of BYU’s International Study Programs, emphasized the importance of breaking down barriers to international education and expanding access to all students.
Despite these efforts, Gertz underscored the need for substantial funding to significantly increase study abroad participation, advocating for private and foundation funding as viable solutions.
NAFSA’s commitment to supporting study abroad through scholarships and financial aid resources, coupled with government initiatives like the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act, offer hope for expanding opportunities in international education. Aw and Torres urged Congress to prioritize passing this legislation to ensure equitable access to study abroad experiences for all US college students.
