Where in the world are UD students?

The University is ranked No. 1 in study abroad participation among the nation's public institutions of higher education, according to a report by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

The report, released in November and based on statistics for the 2003-04 academic year, evaluates study abroad participation as a percentage of undergraduate degrees conferred at doctoral research institutions. In that category, UD ranks first among public universities and 12th overall, with 32.1 percent participation.

Georgetown University, a private institution, had the highest percentage of participation at 64.3, followed by fellow private institutions Dartmouth College (53.3), Pepperdine University (52.4) and Duke University (50.7)

Among the top 20 universities in percentage of participation, UD ranks fourth overall—after Michigan State, Boston and Georgetown universities—in the total number of students taking part in study abroad, with 1,303. The University's numbers are even higher for 2004-05, with 1,477 students studying abroad, Provost Dan Rich says.

"The provision of study abroad opportunities for University of Delaware students is a high priority," President David P. Roselle says. "We are very grateful to the faculty who accompany the students on study abroad trips, and we believe that their participation is a primary reason for the success of our programs.

"The University is deeply indebted to the donors who have made possible increases in the number of study abroad scholarships. However, we recognize that additional scholarship support is a key issue for there to be further growth in the number of students who participate."

UD pioneered the concept of study abroad, offering the first U.S. program in 1923, when eight students sailed to France for a year of study. This school year, the University is offering more than 70 programs in numerous academic subjects and 35 countries. With a milestone 2003 program that traveled to Antarctica, UD students now study in all seven continents.

"Our objective is to make the opportunity to study abroad available and affordable to all UD students," Rich says.

The report was part of Open Doors 2005, an annual survey on international education published by the IIE with funding from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The survey shows that U.S. students are heading abroad in record numbers, with an increase of 9.6 percent over the previous year of the study. More information is available on the web site [www.opendoors. iienetwork.org].