International Education Week offers an opportunity to celebrate our global connections and international accomplishments during the past year. I hope you will visit our website and participate in some of the week’s events.
This year, we are beginning the week by co-hosting a Faculty Networking Reception with the Secretary of the Faculty that will provide an opportunity to build community and share updates on international activities and issues. We are also announcing exciting news from the Open Doors 2025 Report on International Educational Exchange in which UW–Madison is recognized as a leader in global education:
- A record number of Badgers studied abroad last year—3,091—which is the first time we have surpassed the 3,000-student mark.
- We ranked #6 among all U.S. universities and colleges for the total number of students studying abroad, up from #8 last year, and we remain very highly ranked at #3 for semester-long study abroad participation. It is no wonder that UW–Madison made the U.S. News and World Report list this year of the nation’s best study abroad programs!
- We remain #18 in the U.S. for international student enrollment, reflecting our strong reputation around the world and our active international alumni community, which helps us spread the word about UW–Madison.
These achievements are a testament to our commitment to bridging worlds, boosting innovation, and building leaders who connect Wisconsin to the world.
International Education Week follows another celebration this month: the 20th anniversary of the Wisconsin in Washington program. More than 700 students have participated in the semester-long program since its inception in 2005, and many alumni of the program joined us in D.C. for an evening of remembrances and enthusiasm for the future. The participating students take classes on the workings of Congress and on U.S. foreign policy taught by experts with years of experience in Washington. They also serve as interns in the offices of Congressional representatives, federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations. The internships have launched many careers during the past two decades and will certainly do so for many more.
My great thanks to our teams in D.C. and in Madison, who work hard every day to make UW–Madison an outstanding institution where international education thrives.