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

UCSD INTERNATIONAL CENTER SENDS RECORD NUMBER ABROAD;
RANKS SIXTH IN THE COUNTRY AS A HOST forEIGN SCHOLARS

The International Center at the University of California, San Diego sent a record 812 students abroad last year, surpassing any other UC campus.  This was achieved through UC’s Education Abroad Program (EAP) and UCSD’s Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP), both of which are administered out of the International Center. According to the center’s annual report, UCSD programs abroad participation has increased by more than 800 percent in the last 16 years.

International Center director Mary Dhooge said that in spite of the events of September 11, 2001, interest in and applications for study abroad have increased both at UCSD and nationally. She reports that a Fall 2001 survey of UC students then abroad indicated that the overwhelming majority of UC students abroad felt well supported both by the UC Education Abroad Program and by the citizens of their host countries.

During 2000-2001, UCSD hosted 1,661 international scholars, ranking sixth among U.S. research institutions. In hosting international scholars, the UCSD International Center is positioned after Harvard University, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, respectively.

Dhooge said UCSD hosted a total of 4,439 international students, researchers, and faculty members last year. 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.

During 2000-2001, UCSD students studying abroad and international students were awarded a total of $572,509 in scholarships.  Of that total, $444,100 was awarded to UCSD students studying abroad. The balance of $128,409 went to international students. Competitive national and international scholarships totaled $238,109, scholarship donations from the community $84,750, scholarship donations from within UCSD $61,500, and UC EAP scholarships $188,150. 

Of  the 1,661 international researchers and faculty members visiting UCSD last year, the report points out that 44 percent were from European countries and 42 percent, Asia.  Most of these scholars’ disciplines fell into science fields, with 39 percent in the health sciences and 18 percent in the physical sciences.

International students enrolled at UCSD in degree programs last year numbered 1,029, with 59 percent from Asia and 23 percent from European countries.  The majority of the students studied in the fields of engineering, the physical sciences, the social sciences, and history.

The UCSD International Center began in the early 1960s as a “town and gown” organization to support programs and activities for visitors and students from other countries. Its permanent location on the UCSD campus was built in 1971.

The International Center’s community programs involve 1,174 active volunteers contributing a variety of time and services to foster international cultural exchange.  International Center volunteers, including Volunteer Tutors, Host Families, International Café weekly assistants, “Quest” Study Abroad Fair helpers, Friends’ Resale Shop volunteers, Orientation Dinner hosts, and volunteers trained to greet new arrivals, contributed more than 25,612 person-hours of time to UCSD during 2000-2001.

For more information on the UCSD International Center, call center director Mary Dhooge, (858) 534-3730.