MSU ranks among best in international exchange

MSU is beginning to look like a dynasty for international activity.

Study abroad participation and international student enrollment rank in the top 10 nationally among public universities this year, carrying on a standard MSU touts, according to Open Doors 2008.

Open Doors, an annual report on international education, reported that MSU led the nation in study abroad with 2,801 students in the 2006-07 school year.

“We’re excited about the announcement,” said Cindy Chalou, director of the Office of Study Abroad. “It’s two-pronged, excellent for both programs.”

Chalou said study abroad enrollment is at more than 3,100 students this year.

“We hope students use the program to complement their studies here,” Chalou said. “For students to learn and accept cross-cultural difference will be favorable to their careers.”

Out of the university’s more than 250 programs in 60 countries, the most popular destination was Europe with 47 percent, including 14 percent in the United Kingdom alone, Chalou said.

While sending thousands of students to other countries, MSU remains a leader in attracting international students. Open Doors ranked MSU ninth among public universities, with an enrollment of 4,244 from the 2007-08 school year.

Graduate student Sungjoong Kim said a large selection of quality programs at MSU brings interest from many countries.

“(MSU) has one of the best programs in my field,” said Kim, who studies telecommunication, information studies and media. “It is a well-known, famous university with very productive faculty members and more variety of classes than most schools.”

Numbers for international students have increased across the country for a number of reasons, said Peter Briggs, director of the Office for International Students and Scholars.

“The United States’ image has softened since the rigid reaction after (the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks) where we didn’t seem very inviting,” Briggs said.

“The value of the dollar went down and made U.S. higher education a bargain and the strength of the Chinese economy has allowed China to support a large amount of undergraduate students.”

International students have reportedly brought in $97 million to Mid-Michigan’s economy, according to an MSU press release.

“There is a formula devised for the income,” Briggs said. “It totals numbers of how much international students and their families pay for tuition, room and board and things of that nature.”

Briggs believes bringing international students to East Lansing is just as important as giving MSU students opportunities to travel the world.

“In the big picture, we believe students will either work overseas or work with overseas businesses,” he said. “We want students to be comfortable with people of different backgrounds.”