Recent data shows the efforts of international relations advocates like OU President David Boren may be starting to pay off.

The number of students from OU studying abroad has increased in recent years, as well as the number of international students at OU.

“OU’s increase is likely a combination of finally beginning to bear the fruits of a consistent international push from President Boren,” Education Abroad Director Jack Hobson said.

The number of OU students studying abroad has increased from 619 students since the 2007-2008 academic year to 756 in the 2009-2010 academic year, a 22.1 percent increase, according to reports from the Office of Education Abroad.

OU now has more types of studying abroad programs and has become more institutionalized, Hobson said.

The number of international students enrolled at OU has increased from 1,832 in fall 2009 to 2,094 in fall 2010, a 14.3 percent increase, according to reports from OU’s International Student Services offices.

Part of the draw for international students coming to OU is the engineering programs, said Mariana Mircheva, student adviser for the Office of International Student Services.

“OU is famous for some programs like petroleum engineering or even computer engineering or chemical engineering,” Mircheva said.

There was a slight national decrease for the first time in 22 years by 0.8 percent in 2009 and a rebound in 2010, according to the International Institute of Education. This decrease may have been due to the global economic recession, Hobson said.

OU students frequent the same destinations as the top five study abroad locations, Hobson said. These are the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France and China, according to an Open Doors report.