Wartburg College is best for study abroad

Wartburg College is among the national leaders for students studying abroad.Wartburg was 40th in overall numbers at 263 out of an enrollment of nearly 1,800 and 20th in percentage of students studying abroad among four year baccalaureate colleges, according to the recently released Open Doors 2009 report by the Institute for International Education.

Wartburg was 12th for short term study abroad in the baccalaureate college category based on a survey of 3,000 colleges in 2007-08 by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.Most of the short-term study took place during Wartburg’s four-week May Term when 217 students traveled and studied abroad.That included 89 students in the Wartburg Choir’s tour of Germany, Italy and South Africa who were enrolled in an academic course, Tour with the Arts.Other popular May Term destinations and the number of students were Mexico, 34, the leading location to study Spanish

Germany, 21, with two classes, including one in Eisenach, Waverly’s sister city and home of the Wartburg CastleGuyana, 17, where biology students visited rain forest sites, experienced the Amerindian culture and participated in an international research programTanzania, 12, involving cultural encounters and safaris, while focusing on the AIDS crisis. Service learning was coordinated by church agencies with Maasai villagers.

In addition, 32 students went abroad for a semester or longer, with academic endeavors ranging from language and culture immersion to business, communications and science programs. Among other pursuits was involvement in Wartburg’s unique Diers Program with sites in Tanzania, China, Australia and Ghana.Students studied and were engaged with grass-roots community issues and conducted field research.The program requires signing a learning contract with a Wartburg professor regarding activities, while work is overseen by an on site liaison.

Wartburg has a long history of commitment to international study. It is gratifying to see the recognition we are getting through the Open Doors Report for being a leader in international education,” said Dr. Edith Waldstein, Wartburg’s vice president for enrollment management.
Our students, of course, are both the beneficiaries of and the ambassadors for this distinction.