UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State attracted a record number of international students — 6,693 at University Park — in 2012-13, placing it 10th in the United States among universities, according to the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) annual “Open Doors” report, released yesterday.
For the second year in a row, Penn State also ranked first among colleges and universities in Pennsylvania in international student enrollment.
“Being among the top institutions with the most international students helps us to build a robust pool of international applicants to the University and convince students and their parents that ours is a conducive environment for learning and research,” said Michael Adewumi, vice provost for Global Programs at Penn State. “It is one of the points that I constantly bring across as I speak to potential students and their parents around the world.”
In Pennsylvania, more than 37,200 international students accounted for an estimated $1.2 billion in economic impact on the state in revenue from tuition, fees and living expenses for 2012-13, reported by NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
The report also ranked Penn State 19th for the number of students (1,926) studying abroad.
The Open Doors report is published annually by the Institute of International Education, an independent not-for-profit organization with a network of 19 offices and affiliates worldwide and more than 1,200 member institutions.
The release of the report kicks off International Education Week, a joint, annual initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education that aims to promote international understanding and build support for international educational exchange by encouraging the development of programs that prepare Americans to live and work in a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study in the U.S.
“Attracting international students is just one of the ways that we continue to strengthen our worldwide reach,” said Penn State President Rodney Erickson. “We are living and working in an increasingly globalized world, where international competency and collaboration are essential. We are committed to helping our students prepare for the new global economy and also in serving the world through our research, teaching and service.”
The new data from the Open Doors report will be the subject of a briefing on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., which will be led by Assistant Secretary of State Evan M. Ryan and IIE President and CEO Allan E. Goodman.