Annual Report: 2023/24

Study Abroad

Partnered with First Generation at Mizzou to send students to Costa Rica

Mizzou Study Abroad partnered with First Generation at Mizzou to send students on a service-based program to Costa Rica focused on sea turtle conservation. Out of the 24 program participants, 12 identified as first-generation college students (neither parent graduated from a four-year college or university). Historically, first generation college students do not participate in study abroad at the same rate as other college students. By securing scholarship funding to keep costs affordable and providing additional logistical support, these students were able to successfully study abroad.

Continued strategic collaboration with Missouri University of Science and Technology

In fall 2023, MU International Programs renewed its strategic partnership with Missouri S&T for an additional three years. Areas of focus going forward include:

  • Recruit more S&T faculty to lead short-term study abroad programs. Since launching this partnership, three programs have been developed and launched — two to Ecuador and one to South Africa.
  • Develop high impact experiential learning opportunities such as internships, research and service abroad in addition to the portfolio of standard study abroad programs.
  • Simplify the process of transferring courses back to Missouri S&T.

Marching Mizzou in Ireland

In March 2024, 290 members of Marching Mizzou traveled to Ireland to perform in Tipperary Town and compete in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, where the band won Best Overall Band. In addition to scheduled performances, the band also had the opportunity to learn about Irish culture by visiting sites including EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum, Cliffs of Moher and the Rock of Cashel.

Global Advisers Immersion program

For the past three years, Mizzou Abroad has offered an international immersion program to a total of 68 academic advisers and other staff with student facing roles on campus to learn more about study abroad. The expected learning outcomes included:

  • Gain a firsthand perspective of the host location’s academic and co-curricular opportunities as a study-abroad destination for your students.
  • Become familiar with the different study abroad program models offered through Mizzou (faculty led, service learning, direct enroll, affiliated, internships).
  • Gain a better understanding of how a study abroad experience can enhance students’ academic persistence, degree completion, and career readiness.
  • Become familiar with robust student support services of our study abroad programs (housing, support services, typical co-curricular activities, cultural immersion, etc.).

The relationships between the academic units and Mizzou Study Abroad have been significantly strengthened with the launch of this program, which has been especially significant with the academic-based model of advising.

Feedback from program participants

  • The Global Advisers Immersion Program was invaluable to my understanding of the potential positive impact of study abroad for our students.
  • I’ve been able to talk to students more knowledgeably about the enrollment process once they get abroad as well as provide some reassurance about support, etc.
  • I want to talk to EVERY student in their admissions visits about the ways study abroad would fit into their goals for their education and dispel the myths/barriers early.
  • This program is one of the most important experiences I’ve had while working at Mizzou… I feel that I can now speak about study abroad from a less theoretical space and more from a place of “let me tell you about what I experienced and learned.” It was sincerely the best learning/professional development experience I’ve had.

Received State Department IDEAS Grant for study abroad

In collaboration with the Center for Academic Success and Excellence and Student Affairs, Mizzou Abroad was awarded one of only 37 Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students grants nationwide from the U.S. Department of State. The grant is intended to assist with capacity building as well as to allow institutions to grow and expand their student mobility overseas. Mizzou Abroad plans to use this grant to take 15 staff members who work directly with historically underrepresented and underserved students in study abroad on an immersion program similar to the Global Advisers Immersion program, but with a stronger focus on how to expand access to study abroad for Mizzou students.

Fast facts: Study abroad

Refer to the Open Doors: Mizzou report for the latest data on study abroad participation at Mizzou.

Updated 18-NOV-2024