JMU opens door for international education

James Madison University moved to first place among master’s colleges and universities in the number of students studying in short-term study abroad programs, according to a report by the Institute of International Education.

Open Doors 2015, which measured study abroad in the 2013-14 reporting year, reports that 918 JMU students studied abroad in short-term programs, which are defined as summer programs or programs lasting up to eight weeks. JMU ranked fourth in the same category in the previous Open Doors report.

The university ranked third among master’s colleges and universities in the total number of study abroad students with 1,161. JMU ranked second in the same category in Open Doors 2014.

In 2013-14 JMU offered 63 short-term study abroad programs in 52 countries. The university currently offers 68 short-term programs. In addition, JMU operates semester-long programs in Antwerp, Belgium; London; Florence, Italy; Scotland; and Salamanca, Spain.

JMU’s commitment to offering international experiences to its students is rooted in the belief that such opportunities promote a critical awareness of world issues and an appreciation for other cultures.

The Institute of International Education’s report found the number of U.S. students studying abroad increased by 5 percent in 2013-14, the highest rate of growth since before the 2008 economic downturn. A total of 304,467 American students studied abroad for academic credit in the 2013-14 academic year.

The Open Doors report is published by the IIE in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

# # #