The increase in the number of students studying abroad during the 2011-2012 academic year is consistent with the increasing trend over the last thirty four years, during which there has been a relatively steady increase worldwide in the number of students who study abroad, with the latest estimate for 2010 at 4.1 million.

Specifically, the Open Doors Report shows a 1.2% increase in American college students studying abroad, and a 6% increase in foreign college students studying in the United States during the 2011/2012 academic year. Although American university students report a noticeable increase in the number of international students on their university campuses, the international students presently only comprise less than 4% of the total number of students in American Universities.

The percentage of women international students studying in the United States has steadily increased from only 28% in 1980 to 44% this past year. However, of the American students studying abroad this past year, 64% are women.

It is interesting to note that China ranks as one of the top foreign countries American students head for to study abroad, and reciprocally the United States ranks as the top destination country for Chinese students studying abroad. However, the absolute numbers are quite far apart with the number of Chinese students in the U.S. at 194,029 and the number of American students in China at 14,596.

The vast majority of international students who come to the United States to study are from countries that do not have highly ranked universities as determined by the QS World University Rankings. Likewise, the great majority of students from the United States study in foreign countries that have more highly ranked universities. However, according to the Open Doors Report American students are increasingly going to non-traditional destinations.

Although the increases in students studying abroad is promising when it comes to the goal of the people of the world understanding each other better, the trend of students flocking mostly to countries with more high ranked universities will prevent a more universal cultural understanding amongst the citizens of the world. The Council for Globalization of Education understands that when students select a country in which to study they want the cultural experience but do not want to sacrifice the quality of education. However, we believe that in the future there will be a more equitable distribution of foreign students in more countries as the value of understanding other cultures is more fully recognized and valued.

This article is reprinted with permission from The Council for Globalization of Education.

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Reasons cited by the Council for Globalization of Education for selecting Hunter Programs include its long and extensive background in a great many aspects of education, experience in the international education field, the ability to successfully create programs from the ground up, and its strong presence in the Guizhou province.

Hunter Programs has a corporate office in Guiyang, capital city of Guizhou, out of which it has conducted study abroad programs for students of Guiyang over the past four years. Hunter Programs has further developed its presence in Guizhou by helping organize both the 2010 and 2012 environment conferences in Guiyang, China.

Due to the successful and reputable history of exchange programs offered by Hunter Programs, a condition of acceptance of Education USA Merit Scholarship recipients is that they participate in one of a variety of exchange programs provided by Hunter Programs to study in the United States.

According to Raymond Hunter, CEO of Hunter Programs and of Guiyang Hunter Programs, “All of us at Hunter Programs feel extremely fortunate to have been selected for managing this scholarship process. We have already assisted the Council for Globalization of Education in putting together the rules, selection criteria, and the selection process. It really is for a great cause, and we wish all scholarship candidates the best of luck.”

The Council for Globalization of Education selected China because it has shown strong commitment to the globalization of education, China ranks in first place for greatest number of foreign students studying in the United States according to the 2011/2012 Open Doors report, and although it has only been thirty-three years since China opened its doors to foreign trade its economy has grown to become the second largest in the world.

More specifically, the Council for Globalization of Education decided that Chinese scholarship candidates will come from the Guizhou province. According to Scott Sparks, chairman of CGE, “Students from this province do not have the same resources as students from highly developed areas such as Beijing and Shanghai, but because students from this undeveloped area of China are more resourceful and hardworking, they are successful and are competitive with students from developed areas.”

For more information about the Council for Globalization of Education and this scholarship, visit www.globalizationofeducation.org. You may download the application form here by clicking on the form icon on the left.

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