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August Declared the Month of Uncommon Destinations in Study Abroad
August 1, 2006 Salem, Massachusetts - As part of the Year of Study Abroad, August is declared the month of “Uncommon Destinations,” seeking to increase the number of opportunities for students wanting to study abroad outside of Western Europe. Currently, just over 1% of all U.S. undergraduates study abroad and more than two thirds of those students study in a European country. The School for Field Studies, operating in Kenya, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Costa Rica, Australia, and Mexico, has for 26 years promoted international field-based study in destinations off the beaten path. Integrating field research, directed research, case study, and culture and language components into our programs provides our students with a comprehensive look at real-world environmental issues in extraordinary countries and in the heart of dynamic communities. Our belief is that a well-rounded, rewarding study abroad experience includes hands-on, interdisciplinary experiences that provide students with a unique and challenging educational and life experience that assists them in successfully advancing their careers as skilled professionals and globally aware citizens. More about the Year of Study Abroad On July 26th, 2006, Senators Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) introduced the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Act of 2006. The legislation proposes an innovative partnership between the federal government and higher education to dramatically expand participation by U.S. undergraduates in study abroad programs. The goals of the designation are: - To increase the understanding and support in the United States for study abroad as an essential educational experience for students.
- To stimulate state and higher education organizations to provide support and encouragement to increase study abroad participation on individual campuses within the state or organization.
“Today, such programmes [study abroad] are more important than ever. Clearly, we need to use education to advance tolerance and understanding. Perhaps more than ever, international understanding is essential to world peace -- understanding between faiths, between nations, between cultures. Today, we know that just as no nation is immune to conflict or suffering, no nation can defend itself alone. We need each other -- as friends, as allies, as partners -- in a struggle for common values and common needs.” Kofi Annan, U.N. Secretary General ###
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