Nashville, TN, Nov. 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a recently released “Open Doors Report,” Belmont University ranked No. 5 nationally for participation in short term programs among master’s level institutions. In the study published by the Institute of International Education (IIE), the University also landed at No. 9 for overall study abroad participation (combined short term/semester/year-long programs). With a Vision 2020 emphasis on increasing participation in the University’s study abroad programs, Belmont’s numbers have risen dramatically in recent years, from 467 students in 2013-14 to 894 this past year.
The IIE report, which was based on study abroad numbers from 2016-17 when Belmont had 855 students participate, highlighted the growth of study abroad programs across the country, noting an increase of 2.3 percent over the previous year. Approximately one in 10 U.S. undergraduates studies abroad, but the report estimates that more than half of Belmont students now seize on an international opportunity.
Dr. Mimi Barnard, associate provost for interdisciplinary studies and global education, said, “We’re thrilled to have national recognition of our success with increasing study abroad participation. At Belmont, we are committed to providing students with ways to engage and transform the world—it’s part of our institutional mission. As we have risen in the rankings over the last few years, we have also increased the number of opportunities and variety of locations, both for short-term, faculty led initiatives, as well as for semester or year-long opportunities. We are preparing students to be competitive in an increasingly more global context, and our students are able to live, work and serve in communities around the world.”
With almost 900 students studying abroad last year, Belmont focuses on keeping up with student demand and creating new and engaging experiences. New study abroad opportunities for students in 2019 include programs in Jamaica, Norway, Prague and the Bahamas, among others. Nearly 950 students have already submitted applications to study abroad next year, and with deadlines in February for summer program applications, that number is expected to rise.
According to Dr. Thandi Dinani, director of global education, “Belmont’s study abroad programs continue to provide culturally enriching programs that enhance a student’s academic experience. Classrooms come to life as faculty take students to visit places where history took place. Whether visiting Nelson Mandela’s prison cell in South Africa, walking streets where Jesus walked in Israel, or learning how Galileo’s time in Italy was impacted by the Renaissance movement, students see how countries, concepts and cultures have shaped history and impact their world.”
IIE’s report is published annually in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
(Photos available by request from Summer 2018 Study Abroad experiences in England, Ireland and Scotland.)
About Belmont University
Ranked No. 6 in the Regional Universities South category and consistently named as a “Most Innovative” university by U.S. News & World Report, Belmont University is home to more than 8,300 students who come from every state and more than 36 countries. Committed to being a leader among teaching universities, Belmont brings together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service. The University’s purpose is to help students explore their passions and develop their talents to meet the world’s needs. With more than 90 areas of undergraduate study, more than 25 master’s programs and five doctoral degrees, there is no limit to the ways Belmont University can expand an individual's horizon. For more information, visit www.belmont.edu.
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