A survey of overseas higher education institutions indicates that U.S. students are the most sought-after international students, followed by students from China, India, Canada and Russia. Ninety-nine percent of the more than 500 colleges and universities responding expressed interest in attracting more U.S. students, according to study results detailed in the report, “Meeting America’s Global Education Challenge: Exploring Host Country Capacity for Increasing U.S. Study Abroad,” by the Institute of International Education.

The greatest opportunity for U.S. students to study abroad is in either degree programs or longer-term study abroad programs that last a full academic year or at least one academic semester. However, the majority of U.S. students tend to study abroad for the summer or other programs of 8 weeks or less. More than 80 percent of responding overseas institutions reported that exchange agreements and dual degree programs were areas in which their campuses could increase international enrollments, providing benefits to both the host and sending institutions.

“Higher education institutions abroad have a strong desire to enhance international student mobility and open more doors for American students,” says Dr. Allan E. Goodman, IIE president. “Our hope is that the study findings will promote the development of new and longer-term programs that benefit both sending and hosting institutions, and provide American students the opportunity to make international a more central part of their education.”

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