30 Years of International Education
After three decades of education abroad operations, Georgia Tech sees record student enrollment in international experiences.
This year, Georgia Tech is commemorating three decades of providing global learning experiences for students. Initially founded as the Study Abroad Office in 1995, the Education Abroad team within the Office of International Education (OIE) has since supported more than 39,000 students in pursuing international experiences.
For the 2024-25 academic year, Georgia Tech sent 2,576 students abroad, marking a 9.5% increase from the previous year and setting an Institute record for student participation in international programs.
“Student success is at the heart of our mission, and this new enrollment record underscores the collaborative efforts of the Institute to promote global learning,” said Lorie Johns Páulez, director of Education Abroad.
Today, Georgia Tech runs more than 125 programs in more than 50 countries, which contribute to 47% of all Georgia Tech undergraduates having an international experience by the time they graduate. An array of programs supports global learning, including the First-Year Semester Abroad, Global Research and Internship programs, Faculty-Led Study Abroad programs, Georgia Tech-Europe, and exchange programs with international partner institutions.
“Global learning experiences prepare Georgia Tech students to adapt, communicate across cultures, and approach complex problems with resilience,” said Bernard Kippelen, vice provost of International Initiatives. “These experiences empower them to use technology in ways that advance the human condition and prepare them to be leaders.”
In November, Georgia Tech will celebrate these milestones with an event, 30 Years of Education Abroad: Building Tech’s Global Network One Yellow Jacket at a Time, where President Emeritus G. Wayne Clough will deliver a keynote address. Additionally, Tech students interested in studying, interning, or researching abroad are encouraged to attend the 30th annual Education Abroad Fair on Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Exhibition Hall.
Students in Pompeii, Italy, in 2000. Photo courtesy of Chris Campbell.
Students in Barcelona, Spain, in 2004. Photo courtesy of Maureen Heusinger.
Georgia Tech Leads
Georgia Tech’s strategic plan commits to advancing global learning, preparing graduates to be cross-culturally competent and globally minded leaders. The American Association of Colleges and Universities recognizes global learning as a practice that improves student success outcomes and helps students explore cultural norms and differences across the world.
Students in Switzerland in 2017. Photo by Dalton Touchberry.
Overcoming Barriers to Offer STEM Education Abroad
In his 2021 book, A Technological University Reimagined, Clough details the obstacles to sending engineering students abroad — a reality that still exists today. The most recent IIE Open Doors report (2023-24) demonstrates that only 5% of U.S. students studying abroad are engineering majors. To overcome this challenge, Georgia Tech established a Study Abroad office in 1995 under the leadership of Amy Bass Henry, who now serves as associate vice provost for International Initiatives.
Henry notes that at the time, there were a few faculty-led programs but no centralized infrastructure to support faculty and students interested in participating. She prioritized collaboration with academic units and institutional and external partners to expand access to international experiences for Tech students, prioritizing opportunities that enabled them to stay on track to complete their degrees.
“One thing that has endured over the past 30 years is that our students and faculty want study abroad programs that provide opportunities that are relevant to their areas of study,” said Henry.
(Left) Students in New Zealand in 2018. Photo courtesy of Darby Reddaway. (Right) Students in Chinatown, Singapore, in 2020. Photo courtesy of Lulu Gao.
International Collaborations and Exchanges
In 1995, Georgia Tech partnered with other leading STEM universities to establish the Global Engineering Education Exchange, supported by the Institute of International Education. This academic consortium facilitates international academic exchanges at top engineering schools worldwide.
In 1998, Georgia Tech-Europe, Georgia Tech’s flagship international instructional site in Metz, France, established its first summer study abroad program for undergraduates. Leveraging international infrastructure and STEM expertise, 13,000 students have studied abroad at Georgia Tech-Europe to date, in both graduate and undergraduate programs. Georgia Tech also signed international partner institution agreements to support student exchange between institutions and now offers programs at 70 institutions around the world.
“This synergy of student growth and faculty creativity continues to strengthen our academic community and extend Georgia Tech’s presence on the world stage."
Leena Khan in Giron, Edcuador, in 2023.
Faculty-Led Study Abroad Programs
From the outset, Georgia Tech faculty have been a driving force in developing international academic programs. Faculty-led programs “provide students with transformative international experiences that broaden perspectives and enrich their education, while giving faculty the opportunity to design innovative learning experiences that connect disciplinary knowledge with global contexts,” said Paul J. Benkeser, professor and senior associate chair in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering. “This synergy of student growth and faculty creativity continues to strengthen our academic community and extend Georgia Tech’s presence on the world stage."
Georgia Tech currently offers more than 50 faculty-led study abroad programs.
“For faculty, teaching on a study abroad program is as rewarding as it is for the students who participate. It is an exhilarating teaching experience that directly advances Georgia Tech’s mission to cultivate the next generation of global leaders,” said Michael Goodisman, professor and associate chair for faculty in the School of Biological Sciences.
Students in Sydney, Australia, in 2024. Photo by Nadia de la Rosa-Ricken.
Global Research and Internship Programs
As interest in studying abroad grew over time, so did interest in interning and performing research abroad. In 2015, the Office of International Education added infrastructure to support this interest through the Global Research and Internship Program. Georgia Tech students have participated in international research and internship placements with employers such as Airbus (France), McLaren Racing (United Kingdom), Mercedes-Benz (Germany), Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia), Toyota (Japan), Amazon (Mexico), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (Monaco).
“Participating in global research and international internships gives students real-world experiences that employers value,” said Caroline Cully-Garbers, associate director of Education Abroad. “Working in an international setting demonstrates career readiness as students practice resilience in unfamiliar scenarios and flexibility in navigating different cultural norms and communication styles.”
Today, Georgia Tech is a leader in designing effective global learning experiences for STEM students and will continue to build on the first 30 years. The Institute of International Education (IIE)’s Open Doors report recognizes Georgia Tech as No. 25 for total study abroad enrollment across U.S. institutions.