FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDIANAPOLIS – International enrollment at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis has topped 2,000 students for the first time, a record level with students from India leading the way.
There are 2,019 international students attending IUPUI, a 5.1 percent increase over 2014 and a 118.6 percent increase since 2005, when 924 international students enrolled at IUPUI. Students from 147 countries are represented in the IUPUI student body.
“Our growing international student population at IUPUI reflects the increasingly global nature of our campus and strengthens our educational and research programs by reinforcing and adding to a worldwide network of talent,” said IUPUI Chancellor Nasser Paydar. “This not only enhances the dynamic and diverse nature of our campus, but it also helps our students develop as global citizens, both of which are strategic priorities for IUPUI.”
India has the largest international representation with 511 students. Students from India make up 25 percent of IUPUI’s international enrollment, reflecting a trend in which the number of Indian students studying abroad in major English-speaking countries now exceeds the growth rate for Chinese students.
China and Saudi Arabia sent the second and third largest numbers of students, with 405 from China and 398 from Saudi Arabia.
International students now make up nearly 7 percent of the 30,105 students enrolled at IUPUI. The campus wants that to reach 8.5 percent by 2020.
For many students, IUPUI is the first opportunity to experience the tremendous range of cultures represented by its international community.
Campus leaders say the interaction of international and domestic students contributes to global learning outcomes for all students, especially when faculty structure those interactions intentionally.
IUPUI’s University College Gateway to Graduation Program has launched a faculty community of practice dedicated to developing strategies and teaching practices that will facilitate effective intercultural learning.
“The Gateway to Graduation Program leaders are bound to cultivate a network of faculty committed to developing expertise on — and contributing to — the literature on curriculum internationalization,” said Kathy Johnson, IUPUI interim executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer. “Cultivating global learning among IUPUI students will enhance the undergraduate experience while also helping to prepare our students to enter an increasingly global workforce.”
Growth in international enrollment is attributed to IUPUI’s comprehensive mix of world-recognized degree programs, particularly those in science, technology, engineering and business, said Sara Kurtz Allaei, executive director of the IUPUI Office of International Affairs.