Why Study Abroad Benefits EVERYONE!

Good news for people who get excited for study abroad statistics! (Is that just me?) A 2013 survey shows increases in international travel for students. From 2011 to 2012, the number of American students studying abroad increased 3.4% to 283,332. Not only have popular destinations (like the UK) experienced an increase in students, but also some less popular ones like Latin America and the Caribbean. This indicates that students are seeking less conventional experiences and are more enthusiastic than ever about expanding their comfort zones and connecting with different cultures.

I've always thought of study abroad within the framework of how I personally benefited from it, i.e. greater confidence, a deeper understanding of another culture, a broader outlook on life etc., and I've even written about why I think as many students as possible should experience it. This infographic shows study abroad doesn't just benefit individuals, it benefits entire nations: "819,644 international students and their families contributed $24 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2012-13 academic year, according to a NAFSA: Association of International Educators analysis." This is precisely why we should be glad that not only are more and more American students choosing to study abroad, but more foreign students are too. From 2011 to 2012 the number of international students enrolled in an American university increased 7.2%, at about 819,644 students each year, and it seems likely that those numbers are going to keep going up. 

This week at the seventh trilateral North American Leaders Summit Meeting, Mexico announced its plan to increase the number of Mexican students in US institutions from 13,800 to 100,000 by 2018, a lofty goal that is sure to be a hot-button topic amongst US residents (as one particular side of the US political spectrum tends to be weary of incomers). Maybe they would change their minds if they saw how much it's contributing to the economy...

While the US has well over 100,000 students studying abroad each year, maybe we should use Mexico as an example and think about how to increase our own numbers. Only 9.4% of Americans study abroad and 60% of those students do a short-term program as opposed to a semester or year long program. American students are burdened by the current cost of higher education and according to this New York Times article, 56% of American Students are interested in studying abroad, but feel they lack "adequate information about options, and [are] also worried about finances, visas and homesickness." European students are more likely to go abroad due to programs that finance their studies abroad like Erasmus. Perhaps the US, which is highly a "receiving nation" (usually nations that import students) would do well to put an Erasmus-like program into the works? It would behoove the US to encourage international studies in our increasingly globalized world.