At this time International Programs and Global Engagement at Cal State LA is not accepting study abroad applications. Please complete the Study Abroad Interest Form. Your name will be added to the Study Abroad Interest List and we will contact you when we begin to accept study abroad applications again. Thank you!
Cal State LA Joins the Institute of International Education’s Generation Study Abroad Initiative
Cal State LA commits to helping more students gain international experience
Los Angeles, CA (July 28, 2016) – Cal State LA has joined the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) Generation Study Abroad initiative to help more Americans to gain international experience through study abroad programs.
IIE’s Generation Study Abroad seeks to mobilize resources and commitments with the goal of doubling the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade. To that end, Cal State LA’s College of Professional and Global Education affirms its commitment to embracing international education and sending more students abroad.
“Sending American students abroad is a transformational learning experience that promotes a better understanding of global affairs that can be tapped into throughout their lives,” said Eric A. Bullard, dean of the College of Professional and Global Education at Cal State LA.
Under the new partnership, Cal State LA will identify new exchange partners for summer, semester and year-long experiences; develop additional short-term study abroad opportunities that accommodate students’ busy academic schedules while allowing them to make progress toward their degrees; create initiatives/programs for study abroad alumni to promote the idea of study abroad among prospective students; and partner with the American Institute for Foreign Study and the Council on International Educational Exchange, among others.
Cal State LA currently offers a wide variety of study abroad opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in approximately 40 different countries. Students can earn academic credits at Cal State LA while pursuing their study at a host university abroad.
“Students return home with broader perspectives and new ideas,” Bullard said. “They are able to transfer their thoughts and experiences to solve common problems impacting their communities and the world; to focus on a field of study and/or career path; and to demonstrate strong collaborative and communication skills to enhance both personal and professional interactions.”
Cal State LA students can participate in direct exchange and faculty-led programs through Cal State LA, the CSU International Programs, and other affiliated programs. Japan and Korea are popular destinations.
As of April 2016, Generation Study Abroad partners include more than 400 colleges and universities of all sizes and types across the country and around the world.
Currently, fewer than 10 percent of all U.S. college students study abroad at some point in their academic career, according to the Open Doors Report on International and Educational Exchange published by IIE with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Generation Study Abroad aims to increase participation in study abroad so that the annual total reported will reach 600,000 by the end of the decade.
“Globalization has changed the way the world works, and employers are increasingly looking for workers who have international skills and expertise,” says Allan Goodman, president of IIE. “Studying abroad must be viewed as an essential component of a college degree and critical to preparing future leaders.”
About Generation Study Abroad
IIE’s Generation Study Abroad seeks to significantly increase study abroad participation by bringing employers, governments, associations, and others together to build on current best practices and find new ways to extend study abroad opportunities and resources to tens of thousands of college students whose needs are not currently served by existing programs. Generation Study Abroad will sustain an ongoing dialogue about the need for more students from all backgrounds and in all fields to gain international experience. This will include research to identify and break down barriers hindering students from studying abroad, communications to share strategies and best practices to increase study abroad, and fundraising to mobilize additional financial resources. IIE will also hold a Summit on Generation Study Abroad on October 23-25, 2016 to engage stakeholders in higher education and all commitment partners.
About the Institute of International Education
The Institute of International Education is a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. An independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of 19 offices and affiliates worldwide and over 1,200 member institutions. IIE designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporations. IIE also conducts policy research and program evaluations, and provides advising and counseling on international education and opportunities abroad.