Global Distinctions

IIE Open Doors National LeaderIIE logo

The Institute of International Education prepares an annual report on international educational exchange.  The report provides comprehensive information about the more than 600,000 international students in the US and the more then 200,000 US students who study abroad. 

Concordia is consistently listed as a national leader for our school type in international education, especially in the number of Concordia students who study abroad (number 15 in Baccalaureate table by Carnegie classification  last table on the page,and number 6 on the list of Baccalaureate school short term study abroad programs last table on that page, and number 32 of Baccalaureate schools by undergraduate participation last table on the page).  The most current data from Open Doors was released November 15, 2010. 

NAFSA Senator Paul Simon Award 2006

Paul Simon logo

Concordia was honored by NAFSA: Association of International Educators with the Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization in 2006. The award recognizes institutions for overall excellence in internationalization efforts as evidenced in practices, structures, philosophies, and policies.   Concordia was one of the first 21 schools in America to receive the award. Some other schools who have received the award this year or previously are Yale University, Colgate University, Michigan State University, Purdue University, UCLA, and Duke University. 

NAFSA information about the award and about all the selected schools is available. A report, made possible with support from the Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, cites exemplary practices, model approaches, and major trends, describing the current state of international education at selected schools.

Additional Concordia information about the award is available:

Council of International SchoolsCIS logo

Concordia is a Higher Education member of the Council of International Schools working collaboratively for the continuous improvement of international  education.  CIS serves the interests of over 200,000 young people worldwide, and we especially encourage applications from students at CIS schools.

Become Responsibly Engaged in the World

Concordia's active and award winning study abroad programs provide extensive opportunity for you to become responsibly engaged in the world.

Concordia Language Villages - opportunities for sharing culture and language

Concordia Language Villages is an internationally recognized and respected language and cultural immersion program preparing young people for global citizenship since 1961.  Village alumni seeking globally focused higher education can easily apply to Concordia, and Concordia students who are native speakers may easily work at the Villages in the summer or in the Moorhead offices during the school year.

Presidential Leadership

Concordia's immediate past president Pamela M. Jolicoeur was one of a select group of American college presidents invited by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings to participate in a summit on international education in 2006.  She was one of 36 presidents, senior administrators and higher education experts from 15 countries invited by the Hollings Center to participate in a conference in Istanbul, Turkey in 2007. The conference focused on the elements of a successful university, the “American paradigm” of higher education and ways to grow and strengthen exchanges between American and Muslim colleges and universities.  Current interim President Paul Dovre shares this vision as Concordia remains an innovative national leader in international education.

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