WASHINGTON, D.C.
In an effort to impart American college students with a better outlook on world events, two U.S. Senators are proposing a partnership with higher education that would dramatically expand the study abroad program.
An estimated 1 million U.S. college students would study abroad every year over the next decade if the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Act, introduced by Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Norm Coleman, R-Minn., is approved by the full Congress. Under the bill, study abroad opportunities would also become more diverse in terms of participants, fields of study and destinations, with more students studying in developing countries.
Slightly more than 191,000 U.S. students participated in study abroad programs during the 2003-2004 academic year, according to the Institute of International Education’s “2005 Open Doors Report” on educational exchange.
Coleman says the opportunity for U.S. undergraduates to study abroad should be the norm rather than the exception. “The benefits achieved from incorporating study abroad opportunities into the college experience are immeasurable. By interacting with citizens of other countries, U.S. students gain a better understanding of our global community and are able to apply that knowledge here at home,” he said in a statement.
“These types of opportunities should be available to all students regardless of their financial situation, college major or required coursework, and should be expanded to additional countries around the world,” he said.
