According to the OpenDoors Report recently published by the Institute on International Education, the number of US students studying abroad has increased again in 2007 by 8,5 percent reaching a total of 223,534. In 2007, a total of 6,858 US students chose Germany as their study abroad destination, an increase by 5% compared to 2006.

Allan E. Goodman, President and CEO of the Institute of International Education, says that language and cultural skills are increasingly valued by employers and vital to America's national interest. "Students should get a passport along with their student ID," he said, "and they should use it to study abroad at least once during their academic careers." Despite the steadily rising numbers, the vast majority of US students still graduate without any study abroad experience. Dr. Goodman noted that "The opportunity for more young Americans to study abroad is a goal shared by the President, the Secretary of State, and leaders in Congress, industry and academia."

Read more about the IIE OpenDoors Report here.