Cal State LA joins the Institute of International Education's Generation Study Abroad initiative

LOS ANGELES - July 13, 2016 - PRLog -- Cal State LA has joined the Institute of International Education's (IIE) Generation Study Abroad initiative to help more Americans to gain international experience through study abroad programs.

IIE's Generation Study Abroad seeks to mobilize resources and commitments with the goal of doubling the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade. To that end, Cal State LA's College of Professional and Global Education affirms its commitment to embracing international education and sending more students abroad.

"Sending American students abroad is a transformational learning experience that promotes a better understanding of global affairs that can be tapped into throughout their lives," said Eric A. Bullard, dean of the College of Professional and Global Education at Cal State LA.

Under the new partnership, Cal State LA will identify new exchange partners for summer, semester and year-long experiences; develop additional short-term study abroad opportunities that accommodate students' busy academic schedules while allowing them to make progress toward their degrees; create initiatives/programs for study abroad alumni to promote the idea of study abroad among prospective students; and partner with the American Institute for Foreign Study and the Council on International Educational Exchange, among others.

Cal State LA currently offers a wide variety of study abroad opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students  in approximately 40 different countries. Students can earn academic credits at Cal State LA while pursuing their study at a host university abroad.

"Students return home with broader perspectives and new ideas," Bullard said. "They are able to transfer their thoughts and experiences to solve common problems impacting their communities and the world; to focus on a field of study and/or career path; and to demonstrate strong collaborative and communication skills to enhance both personal and professional interactions."

Cal State LA students can participate  in direct exchange and faculty-led programs through Cal State LA, the CSU International Programs, and other affiliated programs. Japan and Korea are  popular destinations.

As of April 2016, Generation Study Abroad partners include more than  400 colleges and universities of all sizes and types across the country and around the world.

Currently, fewer than 10 percent of all U.S. college students study abroad at some point in their academic career, according to the Open Doors Report on International and Educational Exchange published by IIE with support from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Generation Study Abroad aims to increase participation in study abroad so that the annual total reported will reach 600,000 by the end of the decade.

"Globalization has changed the way the world works, and employers are increasingly looking for workers who have international skills and expertise," says Allan Goodman, president of IIE. "Studying abroad must be viewed as an essential component of a college degree and critical to preparing future leaders."

For more information, go to http://www.iie.org/Programs/Generation-Study-Abroad/.