Study abroad organization

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  (Redirected from Study abroad company)
Jump to: navigation, search
Globe icon.
 The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page. (January 2011)

Study abroad organizations, also referred to as study abroad providers, and third-party study abroad providers are independent organizations that facilitate or administer study abroad programs. Providers of study abroad vary enormously in terms of organizational structure, program model and type, and services offered to participants.

Given the tremendous growth in the number of U.S. students studying abroad over the last two decades, the study abroad industry has become more crowded and competitive in recent years. The study abroad business has traditionally been a cottage industry with a hodgepodge of domestic and foreign universities, for-profit and non-profit independent organizations providing thousands of programs in more than 100 countries. Some, like the Danish Institute for Study Abroad, offer their own programs, with their own courses and curricular expectations. Others, like the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) and the Arcadia University Center for Education Abroad, offer some of their own programs, but also are known for acting as intermediaries—offering student services, plus a quality control stamp, for those students enrolling in foreign universities who want more of a cushion than what's available when they directly enroll through international student offices abroad.[1]

According to the Institute of International Education, the majority of U.S. college students studying abroad, about 72 percent, participate on programs sponsored by their home institution. However, at least 28 percent of the approximately 260,000 Americans who studied abroad in academic year 2008/09 study through an outside program.[2]

Contents

[edit] Overview

The outside providers like IES and Arcadia's Center for Education Abroad that act as intermediaries by assisting program participants with logistics like course registration and housing arrangements. While models differ, academic and social guidance is generally included throughout the duration of a program, such as orientation, support services, field trips and cultural activities. Additionally, providers are typically able to provide transcripts that ease credit transfer for students who enroll in their programs based at universities abroad – offer all these extra services, of course, at an extra cost.

Third-party providers of all stripes pursue relationships with U.S. universities in the form of affiliation agreements or membership consortia agreements. There are many third-party providers in operation in the United States. Program models vary; please find a partial list below:[3]

[edit] Relationship with U.S. universities

At many campuses, study abroad programs are run by multiple companies and non-profit institutes that offer colleges generous incentives to increase enrollments. An influential article that appeared in The New York Times in 2007 highlighted that this can include free and subsidized travel overseas for officials, back-office services to defray operating expenses, stipends to market the programs to students, unpaid membership on advisory councils and boards, and even cash bonuses and commissions on student-paid fees. This money generally goes directly to colleges, not always to the students who take the trips.[5]

Critics say that these and similar arrangements, which are seldom disclosed, typically limit student options and drive up prices for gaining international credentials compared with the most economical alternative — enrolling directly in a foreign university, paying generally lower tuition to that institution and having the credits transferred. Some campuses require students to use one of several affiliated providers, but some even have exclusive arrangements with study abroad agents, further limiting options.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Redden, Elizabeth (2007-08-20). "The Middlemen of Study Abroad". Inside Higher Ed. http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/08/20/abroad. Retrieved 2010-12-26. 
  2. ^ Redden, Elizabeth (2007-08-14). "Study Abroad Under Scrutiny". Inside Higher Ed. http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/08/14/abroad. Retrieved 2010-12-26. 
  3. ^ "Third-Party Programs". Clemson University Office of International Affairs. http://www.clemson.edu/academics/programs/study-abroad/programs/third-party.html. Retrieved 2010-12-05. 
  4. ^ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://www.travelandeducation.org. 
  5. ^ Schemo, Diana Jean (2007-08-13). "In Study Abroad, Gifts and Money for Universities". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/13/education/13abroad.html?_r=3&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin. Retrieved 2010-12-26. 
  6. ^ Schemo, Diana Jean (2007-08-16). "Study Abroad Is New Focus of Inquiry Into Perks". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/16/education/16abroad.html. Retrieved 2010-12-26. 

[edit] See also

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Study_abroad_organization&oldid=464992553"
Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Navigation
Interaction
Toolbox
Print/export