Denver at the Epicenter of International Education

This May, roughly 11,000 advisors, program managers, community volunteers, English-language specialists, and more will descend on Denver for the 2016 NAFSA: Association of International Educators Conference. At a time when student mobility across international borders is growing exponentially, this year’s conference looks to be especially dynamic. With hot-button topics ranging from the under-representation of STEM disciplines and students of color in study abroad programs, to the impact of social media and smartphones, Denver will set the stage for discussion of a field that has changed profoundly over the last decade.

Founded as the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers in 1948 (hence the now-defunct acronym “NAFSA”), the Association of International Educators was initially formed to work with American colleges and universities after World War II, when 25,000 students from around the world flooded into the American higher education system. Over time, the organization grew and changed as more and more U.S. students began to pursue study abroad programs around the world. This year’s conference theme, Building Capacity for Global Learning, is both a continuation of the organization’s historic goal, and an incredibly timely response to the vast changes and new challenges of the first quarter of the 21^st century.

A few statistics: According to the Institute of International Education’s 2014 Open Door Report, a record-shattering 886,052 international students studied in the United States in the 2013/2014 academic year. At CU, the international student population has more than doubled since 2009, from 1,228 to 2,558. The number of American students who study abroad has also doubled in the past fifteen years. And this fall our office handled 32% more applicants than this time last year.

These are radical changes, unprecedented numbers. Internationally mobile students (both from the U.S. and abroad) require support structures in significantly different ways from local students – everything from language classes to psychological resources. At the same time, we are still trying to find the best ways to harness the international diversity of our campus, to bring together local and international students and scholars in a community of learning that crosses borders of language, race, nationality, and culture. In other words, Building Capacity is incredibly important in the current boom culture. As we send students abroad, we are learning new ways to help them integrate into their host cultures, and make the most of their international experiences. We are facing new challenges and opportunities that have come with providing programs for diverse majors including Business and Engineering, the growing popularity of short-term options, and the sheer number of students on our programs.

We’re looking forward to the discussion, debate, and deliberation that will take place right here in the Rocky Mountain region. It’s going to be a big year!

Study abroad alumni: Interested in the field of international education? NAFSA is looking for volunteers for this year’s conference! Email karey.sabol@colorado.edu for more information.


 

Last Updated November 2016