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KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University's continuing growth in international student enrollment reflects national trends reported Nov. 17 in the 2014 edition of the annual Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange.

The new Open Doors document reports on international student enrollment across the country this past academic year and compares changes to 2012-13. It found that the number of international students at U.S. colleges and universities rose by 8 percent this past year. Meanwhile, 51¸£ÀûÉç's international student enrollment rose by 7.1 percent, reaching a total of 1,688 international students representing 105 countries.

Although not reflected in the report, University officials note that 51¸£ÀûÉç's international student body has continued to grow this fall at an even higher rate. This fall's enrollment data shows an additional 9.8 percent increase compared to 2013-14, with 1,854 international students representing 100 countries now studying on campus.

Open Doors

The University's recent increases are part of a national trend reported in the Open Doors Report, a census published annually by the Institute of International Education with support from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

It found that the number of international students at U.S. colleges and universities increased in 2013 to a record high of 886,052.

Those students from around the world contributed nearly $27 billion to the economy as well as contributed to America's scientific and technical research. By studying in the United States, they also brought international perspectives into American classrooms, which helps prepare U.S. undergraduates for global careers and often leads to longer-term business relationships.

Trends at 51¸£ÀûÉç

Dr. Wolfgang Schlör, 51¸£ÀûÉç associate provost for the Haenicke Institute for Global Education, says that the University's growing number of international students showcase some areas of special focus as well as national trends.

This fall, for instance, 51¸£ÀûÉç attracted a 60 percent increase in enrollment of students from India and a 44 percent increase of students from Brazil—two countries that the Open Doors Report noted are having a significant impact on international student growth across the country.

In September, the University welcomed scores of new students: 101 from India (271 total), 49 from Saudi Arabia (456 total), 29 from Brazil (95 total) and 26 from Iraq (86 total). These increases are bolstered by growth in the University's Fulbright student population, which currently stands at 38 Fulbright Fellows in 13 academic programs who represent more than 27 countries.

In addition to 51¸£ÀûÉç's degree-seeking students, Schlör points out that the Center for English Language and Culture for International Students—CELCIS—enrolled 212 full-time students this fall and a higher enrollment is anticipated for spring 2015. Upon completing their English language training through the center, he notes that most CELCIS students remain at 51¸£ÀûÉç to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree.

To round out the details on 51¸£ÀûÉç's Open Doors international engagement figures, Schlör says the campus hosted or employed 162 international scholars in 2013-14, compared to 167 the previous year. These scholars represented international tenure-track and visiting faculty members, research staff, and other visitors.

Schlör adds that 51¸£ÀûÉç's total international community exceeded 2,700 members this past year when students, scholars, post-graduates doing practical training and dependent family members are counted.

Study abroad participation

The Open Doors Report also includes data on study abroad participation, but those figures cover a different academic year than the international enrollment numbers—2012-13.

The number of U.S. students engaging in study abroad that year increased by 2 percent to a total of 289,408. 51¸£ÀûÉç sent 558 students abroad in 2012-13, a slight decrease over the previous academic year.

The top five destinations for 51¸£ÀûÉç students were Italy (61), the United Kingdom (54), France (51), Spain (50) and Germany (40).

51¸£ÀûÉç awarded nearly $500,000 in student scholarships for study abroad during the 2012-13 year, with $400,000 coming from University sources. The 51¸£ÀûÉç President's Grant for Study Abroad and the Haenicke Institute for Global Education Scholarship for Study Abroad have been particularly influential in spurring the growth in study abroad enrollment.

Committed to increasing that enrollment among all 51¸£ÀûÉç students, the Haenicke Institute and its Study Abroad unit in fall 2013 joined Generation Study Abroad, a five-year initiative launched by the Institute of International Education with the goal of doubling the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of this decade.

One of the resources provided by the institute is a free book that is now available to all 51¸£ÀûÉç students. Titled "A Student Guide to Study Abroad, it is available for download at wmich.edu/studyabroad/guide.

Community benefits from international enrollment

International students bring enormous economic benefits to their colleges' home communities.

Just this week, NAFSA—the Association of International Educators—released its annual analysis outlining the economic value international students and their dependents contribute to the United States.

For the 2013-14 academic year, the most recent year for which figures are available, international students and their dependents contributed $26.8 billion to the U.S. economy, and NAFSA estimates that 340,000 jobs were created or supported during the same time frame.

That is almost a 12 percent increase in dollars contributed to the economy compared to the previous year and an 8.5 percent increase in job support and creation.

According to the NAFSA report, Michigan's Sixth Congressional District, in which 51¸£ÀûÉç is located, has a total international student enrollment of 2,825 students. They generated more than $77 million of activity in the local economy this past year and about 1,071 jobs stemming from direct and indirect services.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.