KU gains global acclaim: 1 of 5 universities honored for international education

Driving past Lawrence on Interstate 70, few travelers probably realize how much global reach the red-roofed university on the hill has achieved. But the folks who keep track of such things have noticed.

KU is one of only five universities in the nation to receive the 2005 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization from the NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

The award is named for the late Illinois Sen. Paul Simon, who identified international education as an issue of crucial importance for the future strength and security of the United States. NAFSA is the largest professional organization for international educators in the world.

Other award winners included the University of California, Los Angeles. Past recipients of the award, first given in 2004, include Duke University, the University of North Carolina, Indiana University and Yale University.

KU’s international efforts and accomplishments include:

• More than 100 exchange agreements with foreign institutions have been coordinated through the KU Office of International Programs (OIP).

• Twenty percent of KU's graduating seniors study abroad during their time at KU, choosing from more than 100 programs in more than 50 countries. KU ranks fourth among the nation’s public research institutions in the proportion of its students studying abroad.

• Through the OIP’s Internationalizing the Curriculum workshop, 50 new international courses have been added to the undergraduate curriculum over the past 10 years.

• Undergraduates are recognized for their international experiences on and off campus through the Global Awareness Program (GAP) certification on their transcripts. More than 180 students are participating in GAP in its first year.

• KU attracts more than 1,600 international students from 100 countries and 200 international scholars to study, teach or conduct research at KU.

• Three KU area studies programs have achieved national distinction and continuing Title VI funding. These programs—Russian and East European studies, Latin American studies and East Asian studies—offer majors for students seeking to immerse themselves in the language, history and culture of a world region.

• The School of Business houses a federally funded Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER).

• KU ranks 23rd among more than 200 large colleges and universities for the number of students who participate in the Peace Corps.