Arcadia University ranked #1 in the nation in undergraduate study abroad participation in the 2020 Open Doors report, released by the Institute of International Education (IIE) on Nov. 16. Arcadia earned this prestigious recognition based on the percentage of undergraduate students participating in a study abroad experience at a master’s level college or university, as determined by IIE.
Arcadia University has been a leader in international education for over 70 years, since then Beaver College sent students to study in post-war Europe in 1948. Approximately 610 Arcadia undergraduates studied abroad during the 2018-19 academic year.
“An integrative, global experience is a hallmark of an Arcadia education,” said Dr. Ajay Nair, president of Arcadia University. “While COVID has certainly impacted global opportunities for all students and universities around the world, Arcadia’s faculty and staff strive to provide culturally immersive and academically focused experiences for our students with new and innovative programming as we transition to a post-COVID world.”
Arcadia’s international experiences include Preview, First-Year Study Abroad Experience (FYSAE), Global Field Study courses, and graduate international academic experiences. Additionally, the University has recently launched new programs such as the Second-Year Study Abroad Experience (SYSAE), Global Scholars program, and Arcadia Abroad Online. Arcadia’s Office of International Programs and the Office of Study Away at The College of Global Studies offer summer-long, semester-long, or full-year study abroad programs.
“At Arcadia, students are at the center of what we do,” said Dr. Jeff Rutenbeck, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “Through our global academic programs, students of all majors and backgrounds can gain a global perspective. These elements are built into an Arcadia education to prepare students for a life of scholarship, service, and professional contribution.”
The Open Doors report on International Educational Exchange is published by the Institute of International Education, the leading not-for-profit educational and cultural exchange organization in the United States. IIE has conducted an annual statistical survey of campuses regarding the international students in the United States since 1919, with support from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs since the early 1970s. Open Doors is a comprehensive information resource on international students and scholars studying or teaching at higher education institutions in the United States, and U.S. students studying abroad for academic credit at their home colleges or universities.