Penn State Global 2020 Annual Report - Education Abroad

The Office of Global Programs

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

LOCAL TO GLOBAL: FULFILLING THE MISSION OF A LAND- GRANT UNIVERSITY

EDUCATION ABROAD

Brian Brubaker, Director of Education Abroad

For Education Abroad at Penn State, the 2019- 2020 academic year was challenging, but also a year marked by accomplishment, hope, resiliency, and pride.

The global COVID-19 pandemic left an indelible mark on the year; it gave our team no satisfaction to repatriate hundreds of students who were actively studying abroad or preparing to do so in short-order (in some cases, getting on planes in a matter of hours!). However, we (and by extension, our education abroad students) received unequivocal support from University leadership.

Following the suspension and cancellation of education abroad programs, our team turned to helping our students recover as best we could from their truncated programs. This included reimbursement for return flights, an account credit program for unused/unreimbursed housing and meals, and assistance with academic issues provoked by COVID transitions to remote learning worldwide. Our students and our partners, on the whole, navigated a very trying situation with grace, patience, and ingenuity.

As our work stepped into summer and fall 2020, the EA team intentionally turned to innovative solutions for new challenges posed by the pandemic.

Summer 2020 marked the first term when the Perreault Fellows were to complete internships abroad. The Fellows were offered the chance to pursue a virtual internship or consider options that might be available during a different term – all while recruitment for the second Perreault Fellows cohort continued.

On a larger scale, Education Abroad created the Penn State First suite of programs – hybridresidential programs abroad for first-year international students who would be unable to come to the United States to begin their academic career. Together, these programs in Shanghai and Seoul enrolled over 450 new first year students and were a wonderful opportunity to provide a strong curricular and co-curricular introduction to Penn State!

We are ending 2020 stronger, prouder, and wiser. The global pandemic has pushed us to think and innovate in areas where we had not previously focused. This work, and our expanded field of vision, will undoubtedly serve us well as we build a stronger global engagement platform for Penn State students moving into the future.

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# OF STUDENTS WHO WENT ABROAD ON EDUCATION ABROAD PROGRAMS AY 2019-2020 1,278

TYPES OF EDUCATION ABROAD EXPERIENCES

TOTAL NUMBER OF FACULTY & STAFF SUPPORTED BY EDUCATION ABROAD IN AY 2019-2020 TOTAL 314

In addition to advising and assisting students with study abroad planning, Education Abroad works closely with faculty and academic units to bring their embedded courses and study abroad programs to reality. This support carries through from concept development to on-site support and beyond. In 2020, the Education Abroad unit dedicated countless hours to assisting faculty and staff on programs partially executed and those canceled due to the pandemic.

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EDUCATION ABROAD

BY THE NUMBERS Europe 70.2%

EDUCATION ABROAD BY REGION AY 2019-2020

EUROPE 70%

LAT AM & CARIBBEAN 13%

MIDDLE EAST 2%

OCEANIA 6%

AFRICA 4%

ASIA 5%

ENROLLMENT BY TOP 5 MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS AY 2019-2020

GERMANY 4%

U.K. 8%

AUSTRALIA 4%

ITALY 21%

SPAIN 13%

*TOP 5 LOCATIONS 32.3% REPRESENT 64% OF ALL EDUCATION ABROAD EXPERIENCES. REMAINING 36% IS DISPERSED GLOBALLY

LOOKING FORWARD: EDUCATION ABROAD FAIR

To adapt to the new remote learning and exchange environment in place due to the pandemic, Education Abroad adopted, for the first time, a completely virtual Education Abroad Fair. The event drew more than 600 attendees. even with travel so unknown at this time.

The 2020 Fair proved to be the most inclusive fair ever, with attendees from across the Commonwealth.

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EDUCATION ABROAD

BY THE NUMBERS

Increasing the diversity of students who participate in academic experiences abroad, while also expanding access to more host communities in which those experiences are offered, are top priorities for Education Abroad. These efforts are supported through funding and scholarships as well as inclusive advising, amplified outreach, and innovative resources to reach a broad spectrum of Penn State’s student population. When considering all undergraduate and graduate students who participated in one of our education abroad programs during the 2018-19 academic year, Education Abroad saw a 22% increase in students of color as well as a 21% increase in first-generation students.

125 100 75 50 25 0

ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN EDUCATION ABROAD AY 2019-2020

Asian 37 Black/A Am 45 Hawaiian/P Il 2 Hisp/Lat 114 Intl Stud 70 Multi Race/Eth 55 Unknown 32

BY GENDER AY 2019-2020

Men 36% Women 64% IIE's Open Doors Report: Nationally, 67.3% women & 32.7% men (2018-2019)

THE PENN STATE COMMITMENT TO ASSISTING STUDENT EQUITY AND ACCESS TO WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION ABROAD

NO FIN NEED OR FAFSA ON FILE 58%

IDENTIFIED FIN NEED 17% HIGH FIN NEED 20% LOW FIN NEED 5% $254,655 INTERNAL FUNDING BY ED ABROAD/GP + $176,833 FUNDS FOR ED ABROAD FROM PROVIDERS & PARTNERS(CIEE, IES, ISI)

$431,4888 TOTAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT USED BY ED ABROAD THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS, ETC *2019-2020

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PENN STATE FIRST

To Seoul & Shanghai

Penn State enrolls thousands of undergraduate international students every year, including a significant number from China, India, South Korea, and a number of countries in the Middle East. Due to international travel restrictions implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Global Programs sought to offer residential programs abroad to meet new international Penn Staters in their home countries. After searching for suitable host cities, Penn State First programs were launched in Shanghai and Seoul during the Fall 2020 semester.

Penn State First: Shanghai enrolled 415 first-year students from China, Hong Kong, and Macau. The program offered introductory courses in Math, Science, Psychology, Economics, Political Science, and Religion in partnership with the East China Normal University and U.S.-based, international education non-profit, CIEE. In addition to academics, students engaged with Penn State alumni and participated in numerous activities, including a Moon Festival celebration, Halloween Party, and business visits.

Mr. James Heller, Consul General of the United States at Shanghai, invited new American college students in China to celebrate Thanksgiving Day at his residence and enjoy an authentic Thanksgiving dinner. Yifan Zhi, a PSF freshman and a member of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association at Penn State (CSSA), attended Consul General James Heller's banquet. Yifan brought Penn State souvenirs and signages to the banquet and had pictures with Consul General Heller.

Yifan Zhi, a PSF freshman and a member of CSSA and Mr. James Heller, Consul General of the United States at Shanghai

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PENN STATE FIRST

Penn State First: Seoul enrolled 39 incoming Korean students in similar introductory courses at the renowned Yonsei University, also in partnership with CIEE. Although COVID restrictions in South Korea prevented classes from meeting in person, students were able to meet in person for a socially distanced Walk-a- THON and Thanksgiving Feast.

Penn State First will continue to Shanghai for the spring 2021 semester with over 320 students committed. The program will offer a mixture of general education courses to appeal to both first-year and some upper-class students remaining in China. Global Programs sees real value in introducing students to Penn State in a global context and will explore opportunities to offer future first-year programs abroad for both international and domestic students.

For more information on Penn State First Shanghai & Seoul, visit the program resources site and to read about the success of the programs and students in Seoul participating in Walk-A-THON visit Penn State News.

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Thank you!

We appreciate your partnership, dedication, and support of thePenn State First programs.

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2020 EDUCATION ABROAD STUDENT PHOTO CONTEST

Studying abroad is an amazing experience that is often hard to explain in words. Each year Education Abroad hosts the Education Abroad Photo Contest to allow students the opportunity to celebrate and share their global experiences through photos they snapped while studying abroad. Despite the pandemic, the students amazed us once again!

Photo Contest Overall Winner

Category: Local Sustainability & Culture + Grand Prize Winner

Photographer: Tess Woolslager

Program: ISI Florence

Term: Spring 2020

Location: Florence, Italy Caption/Description: "Shopping local and sustainable for each night's meals!"

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Photo Contest Category Winners

Category: Views + Vistas (Landscape)

Photographer: Crystal Dahm

Program: Big 10: Montpellier, Integrated

Term: Fall 2019

Location: Chamonix, France Caption/Description:

"Over the fall break, a friend and I were in Geneva, and took a spur of the moment day trip to Chamonix, France, at the foot of Mount Blanc. Even the back alleys of this town were home to the most picturesque views I've ever seen."

Category: We Are Abroad

Photographer: Katie Samone

Program: Dept of Hospitality

Management: Florence, Florence University of the Arts

Term: Spring 2020

Location: Florence, Italy

Caption/Description: Basilica di Santa Croce, Penn State School of Hospitality Management students

Category: Views + Vistas (Cityscape)

Photographer: Ben Yan

Program: CES Maastricht

Term: Spring 2020

Location: Maastricht, Netherlands

Caption/Description: Maastricht Before COVID (Shot on film)

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