Washington,
November 16, 2011

A video message is available here:

http://video.state.gov/en/video/1274659288001

& http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYfnjYp933M&feature=channel_video_title

Whether it’s a summer course, a semester immersion or a degree program, study abroad can be one of the most rewarding experiences in a young person’s life.  International students enrich classrooms and communities with their ideas, perspectives, and cultures.  And when they return home, they bring new knowledge, new perspectives, and a deeper understanding of the world.

This year, the number of international students studying in the United States reached a record high.  International education is a growth sector for our country, having increased by seven percent last year. And worldwide, women make up almost half the total international student body.  That’s the good news.

Unfortunately, only one percent of American students from two- and four-year institutions are studying abroad.

So as we celebrate International Education Week this year, I am asking all American students to think about expanding your own worldview by studying in another country.  I hope the administrators of our American colleges and universities will support this study abroad experience.  To get started, please visit the State Department’s travel website at travel.state.gov, and apply for your very own passport.

The United States has always been a global leader in higher education.  But to remain the leader in this ever-changing world, we have to push ourselves not just to think globally, but to get out there and study globally as well.  So here’s to you, happy studying somewhere in the world.

Thank you very much.

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