UW-Madison explores its global scope during International Education Week
Whether through study abroad programs, international teaching and research collaborations, language study opportunities, or the thousands of students from around the world who benefit from our campus every year, the University of Wisconsin–Madison is truly a global university.
International Education Week (Nov. 12-16) prompts UW–Madison to celebrate and reinforce the importance of a global education in an increasingly interdependent world.
"Giving students the global competence they need to be effective professionals and responsible global citizens is of the highest priority," says Dean of Students Lori Berquam. "International research and teaching ensure that our students will help to shape the future of global relations."
And the numbers show it: Released today to coincide with International Education Week, the 2007 Open Doors report ranks UW–Madison’s study abroad programs in the top 20 of U.S. research institutions. In 2005-2006, UW–Madison sent 1,616 students overseas — up 10 percent from the previous year.
When it comes to semester and full-year programs, UW–Madison ranks fifth and sixth, respectively. UW–Madison offers students more than 150 overseas study and internship opportunities to every continent except Antarctica.
But one need not leave the state to gain such essential global knowledge. Given a choice to study more than 60 languages, and the opportunity to live in language-specific housing through the International Learning Center, UW–Madison is devoted to preparing its students for the future.
On campus, the International Institute, comprised of 16 area studies programs- eight of which are federally funded resource centers-offers research and learning opportunities about every part of the world, some offering certificates of global competence as measures of success.
And UW–Madison’s centers on global health, law, and business offer the interdisciplinary collaboration essential to tackle changing global concerns.
Last year, UW–Madison was home to 3,829 international students, up 9 percent from the year before and ranking in the top 20 of research universities nationwide. The Open Doors report estimates that their sojourns contributed just under $165 million to Wisconsin’s economy in the form of tuition, fees, and living expenses.
Equally important, the students and their families who hail from all corners of the world bring to Wisconsin the diverse backgrounds and international collaborations that enhance all our community in immeasurable ways.
In recognition of the Eighth Annual International Education Week, a number of events will be free and open to the public. For a complete list of programs, visit the institute’s full calendar of events.
