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

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

The International Center at the University of California, San Diego sent a record 756 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.

UCSD ranks third nationally in students sent abroad based on enrollments in long-term (academic year) programs. According to the Center's recently released annual report, UCSD programs abroad participation has increased by over 764 percent in 15 years (from 84 in 1984-85 to 726 in 1999-2000.)

UCSD hosted 1,612 international scholars during 1999-2000, advancing to fourth among U.S. research institutions. In hosting international scholars, the UCSD International Center is positioned after Harvard University, UC Berkeley, and UCLA, respectively.

Center Director, Mary Dhooge, said that last year UCSD hosted 4,338 international students, researchers and faculty from 99 countries. Dhooge 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 1999-2000, UCSD students studying abroad and international students were awarded a total of $481,534 in scholarships. Of that total, $464,834 was awarded to UCSD students studying abroad and the remaining $16,700 to international students. Competitive national scholarships totaled $100,529, scholarship donations from the community $80,620, scholarship donations from UCSD $64,000, and UC EAP scholarships $236,385. New $28,000 annual Rosita Ho Scholarships for International Students, which will be awarded beginning Fall 2001, were established by the Rosita Ho Foundation.

Of 1,612 international researchers and faculty visiting UCSD last year, the report points out that 47 percent was from European countries and 38 percent Asia. Most of these scholars' disciplines fell into science fields, with 38 percent in the health sciences and 18 percent in the physical sciences.

International students enrolled at UCSD in degree programs last year numbered 956, with 56 percent from Asia and 28 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 1,079 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 24,200 person-hours of time to UCSD during 1999-2000.

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