In November 2005, The United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution designating 2006 as the “Year of Study Abroad.” (S. RES . 308) In doing so, the Senate encouraged secondary schools, institutions of higher learning, businesses and government programs to promote and expand study abroad opportunities. The resolution recognizes the important role that study abroad plays in shaping American education and global leadership.
The Senate listed many reasons for making this resolution, including:
- Studying abroad exposes students from the U.S. to valuable global knowledge and cultural understanding and forms an integral part of their education;
- Studying abroad is an important way to share the values of the United States , to create goodwill for the United States around the world, to work toward a peaceful global society, and to increase international trade;
- Studying abroad contributes to providing enough university graduates with the language skills and cultural competence necessary to meet the current demands of business, government, and educational institutions.
- Studying abroad influences a student’s subsequent educational experiences, decisions to expand or change academic majors, and decisions to attend graduate school.
The year of Study Abroad at UCI
National News on the Year of Study Abroad
Read the full U.S. Senate Resolution
Other National Accomplishments:
Report from the 2005 U.S. Congressional Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program, Global Competence and National Needs: One Million Students Studying Abroad
