September 15, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Participation by students and faculty in Western Kentucky University’s Study Abroad programs doubled during the 2007-08 academic year.
About 470 students took advantage of opportunities to study abroad last year, up from 243 in 2006-07, according to Reed Vesey, director of Study Abroad and Global Learning. Faculty-led trips abroad increased from 12 in 2006-07 to 23 in 2007-08, he said.
“The new breed of WKU student is excited about study abroad and is determined to make this a part of their program,” Vesey said. “Today WKU offers more high-quality experiences, in more destinations, than ever before.”
The most popular destinations for Study Abroad trips last year were Europe, South America and Central America, “but students found themselves increasingly exploring all corners of the globe,” Vesey said.
WKU’s relationships with global learning organizations and international universities continue to grow as well, he said. WKU has exchange relationships with schools in Japan, Korea, China, Belgium, Germany, France, Ecuador, Mexico, Jordan and Canada and works with groups like Cooperative Center for Study Abroad, College Consortium for International Studies and Kentucky Institute for International Studies to provide study abroad opportunities for students and faculty.
New service learning opportunities with International Partnership for Service-Learning and Leadership, among others, also are available to students, Vesey said.
“Successful study abroad programs are collaboration between students, faculty, staff and administration,” Vesey said. “Faculty are extremely important as they set the tone and example for the students. When faculty support or participate in study abroad the students find it very easy to then take the next step and participate.”
A Study Abroad Fair is scheduled for Oct. 16 to provide students with information about study abroad opportunities.
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For information, contact Reed Vesey at (270) 745-6398.
-WKU-
"A leading American university with international reach"
Office of Media Relations
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, Ky. 42101-3576
Phone: (270)745-4295 - Fax: (270)7455387 - E-Mail: western@wku.edu