With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, study abroad programmes around the world took a hit during the 2020-21 academic year. But as countries began to reopen their borders to international travellers in 2021 and 2022, the University of Denver saw the number of students studying abroad begin to rebound.
New data from the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors study shows that short-term study abroad programmes in particular are gaining in popularity across the country. Open Doors data shows that short-term study abroad will increase by 30% in 2021-22, and it is estimated that this number will rise to almost 70% of all study abroad in the future.
In addition to its many semester-long study abroad opportunities, DU offers a range of short and interterm international education programmes. For the first time this summer, students will be able to take summer courses through programmes in Tokyo, Oxford and Costa Rica, among other exciting locations.
Uttiyo Raychaudhuri, Vice Provost for Internationalisation, says these short-term travel opportunities are crucial to making study abroad accessible to all students.
“Students who may not be able to participate in semester-long study abroad opportunities due to family commitments, athletic training, or other barriers can still have a global, immersive experience,” he says.
Since the pandemic, the number of DU students going abroad has steadily increased. In 2021-22, 383 DU students studied abroad on semester-long, faculty-led and short-term programmes, while in 2022-23 that number doubled. This year, more than 700 DU students are expected to participate in semester-long study abroad programmes.
DU student Dylan MacGillivray studied in Glasgow, Scotland, in autumn 2022. He says his time at the University of Glasgow allowed him to discover the potential global impact of his finance degree.
“In terms of my career, my study abroad experience gave me the opportunity to learn important cross-cultural communication skills that are critical in our globalised world,” says MacGillivray. “Without studying abroad, I don’t think I would have become the independent, driven and curious person I am today, and I will carry the skills and experiences I gained abroad with me for the rest of my life.”
DU students’ return to global education is an important aspect of the university’s 4D experience, says Raychaudhuri.
“In keeping with the University of Denver’s quest to provide four dimensions of endless possibilities and an exceptional educational experience in the classroom and beyond, the Office of Internationalisation and the Office of International Education (OIE) are excited about the prospect of the multidimensional opportunities that education abroad offers,” he says.
In addition to the various new programmes being offered this summer, the Office of Internationalisation is working to provide recently returned students with a new way to commemorate and reflect on their valuable time abroad.
