After three years, OU is 11 percentage points away from reaching its four-year goal to increase the number of students studying abroad by 50 percent.
In the 2009-2010 academic year, OU President David Boren set a goal for the university to increase the number of students studying abroad by 50 percent from 2009-2010 to 2013-2014, according to Daily archives.
Throughout those three years, the number of participants has been on a steady rise.
The number of participants has increased by 39 percent, putting it 11 percentage points away from the four-year goal with one year remaining, according to the 2012-2013 College of International Studies’ education abroad profile.
Since 2008, the number of OU students studying abroad has increased by 49 percent, from 640 to 954, according to the profile.
The biggest spike was between the 2009-2010 academic year and the 2010-2011 academic year, after Boren set the study abroad goal. The number of students studying abroad increased by 18 percent between those years.
Though the program has had a steady increase in students, Suzette Grillot, College of International Studies dean said, the college will increase study abroad opportunities.
According to the 2012-2013 profile, the university plans to keep numbers rising by:
· Strengthening partnerships with universities abroad
· Encouraging the continued growth and support of OU faculty-led programs
· Dedicating efforts to enhance credit transfer and course equivalency procedures
· Increasing scholarship opportunities to offset the financial cost of traveling and living abroad
Karen Elmore, international programs coordinator, encourages all students — no matter their economic situation, major or any other factor — to study abroad.
“The question is not ‘Can you study abroad?’ but rather “When will you study abroad?’” Elmore said.
After seeing a poster in Gittinger Hall, religious studies senior Alexandra Eggleston decided to try studying abroad and took two courses in France over the summer.
“I never would’ve been able to spend a month in France without the opportunity to go and get credit,” Eggleston said.
In addition to building lasting friendships and learning to explore on her own, the experience has encouraged her to continue traveling after graduation, Eggleston said.
Eggleston is interested in working in Australia or Europe and has been searching the global job postings provided by OU.
“It definitely sparked a desire to go back,” Eggleston said.
