Supporting Undergraduate Research Abroad

Bernhard Streitwieser of Northwestern University's Study Abroad Office is investigating support of undergraduate research abroad. He writes about his study:

"...Few in the field dispute the value of undergraduates undertaking a research project while they are abroad if the effort is adequately prepared and supported and can be conducted appropriately. Yet, to date no comprehensive data exists that indicates how widespread undergraduate research abroad may be among sending institutions and third party providers institutions, nor what kind of support may exist for these efforts. According to the most recent IIEPassport data, of the 7,682 study abroad programs, 1,474 programs offer 'directed field study' opportunities, and 1,884 offer 'independent study opportunities'. This study is an attempt to begin answering two crucial questions raised by these numbers:

1. How many students generally undertake a research opportunity while they are abroad?
2. How is this opportunity prepared and supported by the sending university, college, or third-party provider? "

How does your institution or organization support undergraduate research abroad?

We invite your feedback here, and also to complete the attached short survey and send it directly to b-streitwieser@northwestern.edu by February 15, 2008.

Survey Results To Be Released

On Monday, October 8, the Forum on Education Abroad will be releasing the Results of the Forum's Survey on Program Management in Education Abroad.

A total of 269 Forum member organizations were invited to participate in the survey. The results include responses from 75 U.S. colleges and universities and 20 study abroad provider organizations, host institutions, and programs located outside of the United States. An additional response was received from a consortium of U.S. universities, bringing the total number of respondents to 96, a response rate of 36 percent.

The survey data collected represents 72,067 student education abroad experiences (some of which may have been facilitated and counted both by an institution and by a program provider), representing a significant proportion of U.S. study abroad.

The survey inquired about institutional study abroad policies and practices and the relationships between U.S. colleges and universities and study abroad providers. Examples of topics include: how institutions are responding to the public scrutiny of education abroad; strategies used by institutions to affiliate with or approve programs; how students pay for affiliated or approved study abroad programs; how programs are evaluated; the funding of study abroad offices; site visits, familiarization tours, discounts and rebates; and service on advisory boards.

Members of the Forum are invited to participate in a Webinar at 11am EST. If you did not receive an invitation, email info@forumea.org.