By Edward R. Bauer
Director of International Programs
Davenport College

The opportunity to study abroad has been an important part of college plans for students in many countries. For several years, studying in another country has been a valid alternative to earning a master's degree or a Ph.D. at home. Today, many students are also choosing to study in another country at the undergraduate level.

International students usually list three-primary reasons for choosing to study abroad. First, the desire to become fluent in a second language is often very important. Second, students want to experience another culture, meet people and make new friends from other parts of the world. Third, they feel that their degree will help them prepare for a career and/or advanced study.

This year, more than 500,000 international students are studying in the United States. They represent about 3 percent of all college students in America and they are studying a variety of academic fields from English and vocational programs to engineering and medicine.

Colleges and universities in America welcome students from other countries because the faculties and administrations know the important role international students play on the typical college campus.

American students, most of whom have not traveled abroad, have the opportunity to interact with students from other cultures. Having an American friend not only gives the international student the chance to learn about American culture, but the reverse benefit is also true of the cultural exchange. And international student participation in the classroom in an important addition to the educational process. It enables everyone to experience critical thinking on important issues while investigating solutions to problems from a global perspective.

To support this increased interest in international education, colleges and universities in the United States began to internationalize curricula several years ago. This process addressed many issues relating to diversity and established the foundations for some of today's unique opportunities for students.

One example of a unique opportunity is in the area of business education. The most popular choice for a major field of study among international students in the US is business. As international business grows, so does the demand for graduates with skills in the field and international students studying business are in a good position to fill this demand.

Several years ago, the development of curricula for business education in the United States began to include international dimension. Today, almost every college student with a business major has access to courses directly related to international business. In fact, international business is, in itself, a very popular major field of study at many institutions in the United States. This growth gives colleges and universities throughout the world the opportunity to link international education with international business - a natural combination.

As international business grows, so does student interest in it as a career option. With the emergence of economic regions in the world as trade agreement participants, it makes sense that students would want to experience international business education from the same perspective.

As part of an international approach to business education at some colleges, students now have the opportunity to study in all three major economic regions of the world during their four-year bachelors degree program.
International students may begin studying at a college near home, transferring credits earned to an institution in the United States to receive advanced standing in a degree program. Then, as part of their bachelor degree program in the United States, they may be able to apply to study at a college in Europe for six-12 months.
Such partnership agreements between colleges and universities in Europe, North America, and the Asian-Pacific rim enable students to study in the same three economic regions of the world so important to international business today.

These programs are designed to expose the student to different cultures, languages, and the global marketplace while still enabling them to complete their four-year bachelor's degree program in a reasonable length of time and at a reasonable cost.

As institutional partnership networks grow, student options also increase. A student may want to study in all three major economic regions of the world but concentrated on just one. For example, by studying for three years in the United States and a half year each in Europe and Asia, a student can develop stronger ties to the US system, culture and language while experiencing the European Union and the Pacific Rim.

These programs also provide an excellent opportunity for students to use emerging technology to accomplish their academic goals. At some institutions students are required to use the Internet to begin their international experience before they leave their home institution, working on projects with students and instructions at partner institutions around the world. Often, when they return, the same technology is used to continue the contact and complete the projects.

More and more colleges and universities are offering exchange opportunities for international students. In North America, a student may be able to study in Canada, Mexico or the United States while choices in Europe could include the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Finland, France, Spain and Germany. Students who wish to study in the Asian-Pacific Rim might be able to choose a college in Japan, Thailand, Taiwan or Australia.

This value added approach to international business education includes opportunities for all participants in the partnership to benefit. Business firms benefit as do the colleges and universities &but the biggest beneficiary of these programs that bring a new meaning to the term "international student" is the student.