Growing UNC Study Abroad Program Ranked Eighth-Largest in Nation

The institute, a nonprofit agency based in New York that provides information about international work and study opportunities, reported that 1,217 UNC students studied abroad in the 2000-01 school year, making the University No. 8 on its list.

Robert Miles, director of the Study Abroad Office at UNC, said this achievement can be attributed to a number of factors.

"In recent years, the chancellor and the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences have identified study abroad as an essential part of academic strategy," Miles said. "They have highlighted the importance of study abroad as part of the University."

He said students want to take advantage of the study abroad program for the international experience and to try to enter the global labor market.

Miles said one of the reasons for the program's growth is the ease with which students can apply. The Study Abroad Office was the first office on campus to use a secure Web site to help students apply using the Internet. In addition, most of the information on its programs can be found on its Web site.

To continue the tradition of studying abroad at UNC, Miles said he hopes to deepen the relationship between the University's curriculum and the program by redesigning the structure of certain classes.

"Study abroad adds a new dimension to the curriculum," Miles said.

"What the student studies abroad is related to the content of the course before they go abroad. You read about it in Chapel Hill and then ... see what it looks like in reality."

He said one such class will be offered next semester in the Department of Anthropology. Another option is providing classes specifically designed for students who already have experienced studying abroad.

UNC faculty members have also helped the study abroad program grow. Miles said his office has sought faculty to serve as resident directors for the study abroad program, and that those faculty then help recruit students to study abroad.

"The administration quite rightly emphasizes the study abroad experience for every student," said Don Nonini, an anthropology professor who is helping Miles organize a trip to Singapore.

Gang Yue, an associate professor in the curriculum of Asian studies who directed a South Atlantic study abroad program, said that while the study abroad program is moving in the right direction, he would like to see UNC's programs expand to cover more sites.

"I am a strong advocate of the diversification of the countries we send students to," Yue said.

Miles said UNC should offer an international experience to all of its students and said he looks forward to developing a variety of new programs for students who want to study abroad.

"From this office alone, 1,217 students went abroad," Miles said. "We are devising a strategy to significantly increase that number."

Miles said any expansion would be dependent on adequate support. "That increase will need to be phased according to the resources available to us."

The Study Abroad Office will continue with program development in locations such as Africa, China, Singapore and Vietnam.

Miles said he is happy about the success of UNC's program. "I'm proud to be the director of such a prestigious, successful study abroad office," Miles said. "It gives me a wonderful foundation to build an even more successful program."

Eshanthi Ranasinghe contributed to this story.

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.