The Institute of International Education ranked the University ninth in short-term study abroad programs in its annual Open Doors report.
The report serves as a comprehensive study of the experiences of international students in the United States, as well as of American students studying abroad. Last year, 1,255 University students participated in short-term study abroad programs, which the report defined as those that last between six to eight weeks or that take place during the summer or January terms.
The University placed ahead of schools with larger student bodies such as the University of Michigan and Pennsylvania State University. Michigan State University topped the list with 2,482 participating students. The ranking is consistent with the University's previous study-abroad rankings.
"We rank consistently pretty high. We were high last year as well," said Marina Markot, associate director of education abroad programs. "It's a combination of student interest, the school's efforts and our faculty."
The University's variety of programs, which allow students of all different backgrounds to study abroad, also may have contributed to the high ranking, said Dudley Doane, director of summer and special academic programs for the International Studies Office.
But this same variety of programs also might imply that different programs are designed to serve different purposes - and thus some may be shorter in length, said Gowher Rizvi, vice provost for international programs. Hence, the study's emphasis on the phrase "short-term" is "not very meaningful," he added, citing the Darden School as an example.
"The business school has a program on global business, and for them that is the right length: two weeks," Rizvi said.
He noted that regardless of program length, it is the University's goal to produce significant experiences for all students studying abroad.
"All programs are designed in a way that they achieve an outcome," he said.
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