Nearly 100 recruiters and educational counselors from 29 countries will visit campus April 17-20 to learn about UAB and the local community as a possible destination for students in their home countries who are interested in studying abroad.
The familiarization trip is the next step in the launch of The INTO UAB Center, a joint venture with a global educational company will help UAB increase its international student enrollment. The visitors will meet with deans, students, faculty and staff and student service representatives to get a better sense of the ways UAB might appeal to the students they advise.
Through the INTO UAB Center, the university will provide the academic support international students need to improve their English language comprehension while working toward a graduate or undergraduate degree.
The first students will enroll this fall, and it is estimated that more than 700 international students will have enrolled through the new joint venture by the fifth year, says Senior Vice Provost Suzanne Austin, Ph.D., who also directs UAB’s Office for Global Engagement. UAB will be able to accommodate this level of enrollment growth, and no qualified Alabama resident will be denied admission to UAB as a result of this international recruitment emphasis.
“A commitment to globalization is part of our institutional plan. This is a natural extension for a research university that already welcomes and provides myriad services for students, faculty and staff from 95 countries,” Austin said.
UAB is INTO’s eighth and newest U.S. partner, joining Oregon State University, University of South Florida, Colorado State University, Marshall University, George Mason University, Drew University and Saint Louis University. Globally, INTO partners with 20 universities in the United States, United Kingdom and China.
UAB is ranked a Top 200 Best Global University by U.S. News & World Report, and The Center for World University Rankings lists UAB as No. 146 internationally in education quality, student training, faculty prestige and research quality.
