June 15, 2005

International Center Sends Record Number Abroad;
Attains High Ranking As Both Sender And Host For Scholars

By Jan Jennings

UCSD ranks second nationally among major research universities sending students abroad in full year programs, according to the 2005 annual report of UCSD’s International Center. UCSD sent a record 958 students abroad through their Programs Abroad advising services, surpassing other UC campuses. It is second to Cornell University nationwide in this category.

During 2003-2004, UCSD hosted a record 1,929 international faculty and researchers and now ranks fourth among U.S. research institutions in the number of international scholars hosted. Harvard University, UCLA and UC Berkeley, respectively, are the top three universities hosting international scholars.

International students at UCSD increased in number from 1,607 to 1,811 during 2003-2004, despite a national trend of declining numbers of international students experienced by many universities.

Mary Dhooge, director of the International Center, said UCSD hosted a total of 5,103 international students, researchers, and faculty members last year. This includes the 1,811 degree students, 1,363 UCSD Extension students, and 1,929 scholars. She credits "the extraordinary support from the surrounding community" for UCSD's ability to provide the hospitality necessary for this large population of visiting students and scholars.

UCSD’s high participation in programs abroad is achieved through the UC-wide Education Abroad Program (EAP) as well as UCSD’s Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP), both of which are administered through the International Center. Participation in UCSD’s programs abroad has increased by 126 per cent in 10 years.

During 2003-2004, UCSD students studying abroad were awarded a total of $401,525 in special scholarship support for international education. “Study abroad scholarship is a priority at UCSD,” said Dhooge. “Our goal is to enable all students to have an opportunity to study abroad at a cost equivalent to their net budget for the home campus in San Diego.”

During 2003-2004, UCSD’s 186 math, science and engineering majors abroad represented 19.4 percent of all UCSD students abroad (compared to the national average of 15.5 percent). UCSD has sent more engineering and computer science majors on EAP than any other UC campus over the last five years.

Of the 1,929 international researchers and faculty members visiting UCSD last year, the report points out that 43 percent were from European countries and 42 percent from Asia. Most of these scholars’ disciplines fell into science fields, with 37 percent in the health sciences and 14 percent in the physical sciences.

The UCSD International Center began in the early 1960s as an organization to support programs and activities for visitors and students from other countries. Its permanent location on the UCSD campus was built in 1971. Last year approximately 1,000 events were held at the Center.

The International Center’s community programs last year involved 1,189 active volunteers, contributing 43,188 hours of service to help foster international cultural exchange. International Center volunteers serve as American English tutors, host families, assistants at the Centers’ weekly International Café lunches and Friends’ Resale Shop, orientation assistants trained to greet new international arrivals, and hosts at international spouses’s coffee hours. In addition, the Friends sponsor special educational events such as the new Armchair Travelers series and ethnic dinners.

The Friends of the International Center membership is more than 330, with a monthly newsletter featuring special cross-cultural and educational events, volunteer activities and letters from outstanding students abroad to whom the Friends have awarded scholarships.

For more information on the UCSD International Center, call center director Mary Dhooge, (858) 534-3730. To view the International Center Annual Report, check the website at http://icenter.ucsd.edu/pdfs/annual_report04.pdf.

Media Contacts: Mary Dhooge, International Center, (858) 534-3730, or
Jan Jennings, (858) 822-1684