International Students Give CSU High Marks for Educational Experience

Colorado State University ranks third nationally and ninth in the world when it comes to international students’ overall satisfaction with their educational experience.

The survey by International Student Barometer showed that CSU ranks first in the nation in 10 categories among universities nationally and among the top 30 around in the world, in such areas as quality of expert lectures, course content and living experience.

Eighteen U.S. universities and 203 foreign universities participated in the survey of 209,422 students in 16 countries in Fall 2011. This was CSU’s first time participating in the survey.

“The results are even more impressive considering that this is the first year that CSU has participated in this international survey. This survey really sets a benchmark for CSU in the future,” said Jim Cooney, vice provost for International Affairs at CSU.

CSU ranked first in 10 categories in the survey (world ranking is in parentheses):

• Quality of teachers (8)
• Expert lecturers (30)
• Research (28)
• Safety (27)
• Campus environment (22)
• Housing quality (13)
• Dining services (7)
• Eco-friendly attitude (30)
• “Good place to be” (21)
• Social activities (14)
 

CSU also ranked No. 2 in the U.S. and No. 10 overall in learning, No. 2 in the U.S. and No. 20 overall in living experience and No. 2 in the U.S. and No. 9 overall in student support.

“We are delighted that students from around the globe are coming to appreciate what students from our home state of Colorado have known for over a century: that Colorado State offers an outstanding academic experience on a spectacular campus in one of the best cities in the U.S.,” said CSU Provost and Executive Vice President Rick Miranda. “Our faculty and staff can be proud of all that CSU has to offer, and we look forward to hosting more international students who will come to study, work and live with us.”

U.S. universities participating in the survey include Arizona State University, DePaul University, Indiana University, Iowa State University, Michigan State University and the University of Pittsburgh. International participants include the University of Oxford and Middlesex University in England; the University of Edinburgh and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland; and the University of Adelaide in Australia.

Cooney said the survey results would be used to improve support services for CSU’s 1,100 international students. It should also help CSU better prepare for an influx in international student recruitment thanks to an agreement with INTO University Partnerships, which should bring 350 new international students to campus for the 2012-13 school year. Eventually, CSU hopes to add an additional 1,000 international students through its partnership with INTO.

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