ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, December 2, 1996 TAG: 9612020127
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
COLLEGE STUDENTS studying abroad increased 10.6 percent in 1994-95. And they're going to fewer traditional locations than ever before.
Rising numbers of U.S. college students are studying overseas, and many aren't going to the traditional universities in Europe, a survey found. They're venturing farther afield, to Africa, Australia, the Middle East.
The number of American students studying abroad rose 10.6 percent to 84,403 in 1994-95, continuing a 10-year upward trend, a report released Sunday by the New York-based Institute of International Education said.
Foreign student enrollment in U.S. schools, meanwhile, rose less than 1 percent the past two years.
``As recently as a decade ago, studying abroad was considered a luxury,'' said Richard Krasno, the institute's president. ``I think it's now considered a more instrumental part of undergraduate education.''
He speculated that American students are warming to the idea of studying abroad because they they already are being exposed to other cultures on their own campuses. Many also recognize the importance of a second language and international experience in competing for good jobs, he said.
``When I went to school, they said `Here, study French. If you even go to France, you'll be able to order off a menu.' Now, it's seen as a career asset,'' said Wayne Decker, director of the office of international studies at the University of Arizona.
Amy Hofsheier, 21, a student at the University of Arizona, leaves for Israel next month to study for 51/2 months at Ben Gurion University in Beersheva.
``I think for myself it's really a necessity,'' said Hofsheier, who hopes to do archaeological work in Israel one day.
Kenitra Burton, 20, a junior at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y., spent a month in Thailand as a freshman.
``I grew up a lot. I really matured. It gave me a whole other perspective on being a minority,'' said Burton, who is black. ``I had braids in my hair at the time. They were all curious and kept asking `How did you do that?'''
Suzanne Hartman, 21, a junior at Emory University, is leaving in February to study for a semester in Sydney. Except for the air fare, she said, it will cost about the same to study there in Australia as it would at Emory, a private school in Atlanta.
A fast-growing economic market in China led to a 30 percent increase in American students studying there in 1994-95, Krasno said. Costa Rica also reported a 30 percent increase, partly because many students recognize the advantage of knowing Spanish, he said.
He said Australia is aggressively recruiting U.S. students. It reported a 42 percent rise in American enrollees in 1994-95 with 3,346.
While these countries reported large percentage increases in American students, Britain still was host of the most - 19,410 students, or 23 percent of all study-abroad students. France, Spain and Italy ranked second, third and fourth with 7,000 to 7,900 students.
Despite a rising wave of Americans signing up for study abroad, the 453,787 foreigners on U.S. campuses this year is only 0.3 percent more than a year ago, continuing a six-year trend of slow growth. The largest number of foreign students arrived from Japan, followed by China, Korea, Taiwan, India and Canada.
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