1. International Student Mobility:
The Experiences of Students and
Impact on Institutions
National Chinese Language Conference
Washington D.C., April 2012
James Montoya, Vice President, The College Board
Margaret Heisel, Director, Center for Capacity Building in Study Abroad,
NAFSA
Alexander Zelloe, student, Virginia Tech University
Yating Wang, student, American University
Chris Macdonald, student, American University
Paul Stephen, student, George Washington University

2. Enrollment of International Students at U.S. Universities Is at an
All-Time High
• International student mobility continues to be high despite economic challenges.
• In academic year 2010-2011, more than 723,000 students from other countries were
enrolled at U.S. universities.
• The number of Chinese students enrolled in U.S. undergraduate programs
grew 43% last year.
• South Korea, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia also experienced impressive gains.
Top 10 Places of Origin of International Undergraduate Students Studying in the U.S. (2011)
>291,000, a 6% Undergraduate Students Coming to U.S.
increase over 2010
Non- COUNTRY 2009/10 2010/11
driven by Asia
Degree 1 CHINA 40,000 57,000
19% Under- 2 SOUTH KOREA 36,000 38,000
graduate 3 INDIA 15,000 14,000
40% 4 CANADA 14,000 13,000
Graduate 5 VIETNAM 9,000 11,000
41% 6 SAUDI ARABIA 9,000 11,000
7 JAPAN 13,000 11,000
8 MEXICO 8,000 8,000
9 NEPAL 7,000 6,000
Breakdown of International 10 TAIWAN 7,000 6,000
Students Coming to US
Source: Open Doors 2011 Report on International Educational Exchange.

3. Student Mobility Globally Is on the Rise, Especially Toward
Countries with Universities Offering English-Medium Academic
Programs Global Destinations for International
Students at All Academic Levels,
2001 and 2010
2001 2010
Worldwide: 2 million int’l students Worldwide: 3.7 million int’l students
(U.S. = 550,000) (U.S. = 740,000)
United States
Other Other
34% United States 31% 17%
28%
United Kingdom
13%
United
Kingdom
Belgium 11%
2% Germany
Spain Germany Japan 8%
France
2% Japan 9% 3%
7%
3% France
Australia China
4% 5% Australia 9%
Canada
5% 9%
In 2010, English-speaking countries
Source: College Board Internal Analysis based on data from the
Institute of International Education (IIE)’s Project Atlas and
(U.S. + UK + Commonwealth
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Countries) hosted more than 1.6
(2010). Education at a Glance 2010. Paris: OECD million int’l students.

4. Blue Ribbon Panel on Global
Engagement, November, 2011
“IN THE DECADES AHEAD, THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL AND INFLUENTIAL COLLEGES
AND UNIVERSITIES WILL OPERATE NOT ALONE
BUT IN GLOBAL NETWORKS IN WHICH
FACULTY, STUDENTS, TEACHING MODELS AND
IDEAS WILL TRAVEL FREELY. THESE
NETWORKS WILL BE VITAL TO THE SHAPE AND
FUNCTION OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
REGARDLESS OF HOW „LOCAL‟ THEY MAY
APPEAR TO BE IN OPERATION.”

5. Student Mobility Worldwide
2001 – 2.0 Million Internationally 2009 - 3.3 Million Internationally
Mobile Students Worldwide Mobile Students Worldwide
Source: IIE Open Doors

6. U.S. STUDY ABROAD TRENDS
260,327 U.S. students studied abroad for academic credit in 2008/09. U.S. student
participation in study abroad has more than doubled over the past decade.
3 000
00,
25 000
0,
200,
000
1 0,
5 000
1 000
00,
5 000
0,
0 01
91 92
95
97
01 02
98
03
05
07
08
90
94
96
99
00
04
06
09
00/
/
94/
96/
/
97/
02/
04/
06/
07/
89/
93/
95/
98/
99/
03/
05/
08/
Source: IIE Fast Facts

7. Growth in International Students Studying in the U.S.
In 2009/10, the number of international students in the U.S. increased 2.9% over
the previous year to 690,923 students.
700,
000
600,
000
500,
000
400,
000
300,
000
200,
000
1 000
00,
0
65
95
05
55
75
85
60
70
90
00
09/ 0
80
1
54/
74/
84/
64/
69/
94/
04/
79/
59/
89/
99/
Source: IIE Fast Facts

8. Goals for Disciplinary Focused Study Abroad
 Prepare students for leadership roles in
business, government and academics
 Develop proficiency in another language
 Gain knowledge of international disciplinary
practices
 Adapt to foreign-based workplace methods
 Acquire intercultural knowledge and ability to move
with ease in other cultures
 Ability to live, work, perform research in other
countries

9. Center for Capacity Building in Study Abroad
Dr. Margaret Heisel
www.studyabroadcenter.org
202-495-2524

10. International Student Mobility:
The Experiences of Students and
Impact on Institutions
National Chinese Language Conference
Washington D.C., April 2012
James Montoya, Vice President, The College Board
Margaret Heisel, Director, Center for Capacity Building in Study
Abroad, NAFSA
Alexander Zelloe, student, Virginia Tech University
Yating Wang, student, American University
Chris Macdonald, student, American University
Paul Stephen, student, George Washington University