More than $8 million in tuition scholarships to encourage Latinos to study abroad; Only 5.4% of all U.S. study abroad students are Latinos
BALTIMORE--(COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--Oct. 11, 2005--Laureate International Universities, a group of accredited institutions owned by Laureate Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LAUR), the world's leading international provider of higher education, has partnered with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) to award more than $8 million in tuition scholarships for Latinos and other students to study abroad throughout Europe and Latin America.
Created to address some of the most significant barriers preventing students, particularly Latinos, from studying abroad - lack of financial resources and access to information on program options, this unparalleled program will provide students from HACU's more than 400 U.S. and Puerto Rico member schools the opportunity to study abroad at one of Laureate`s 15 universities in various countries.
''Part of the challenge in providing an equal opportunity for U.S. students of all backgrounds is overcoming the impediments to participation in study abroad,'' said Raph Appadoo, President of Laureate Education, Inc.
According to the Bipartisan Congressional Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program, Hispanic students make up a much smaller percentage of students going abroad than their respective percentage of US post secondary enrollment. The same study indicates that participation of minority and low-income students is limited by economic perceptions and realities and lack of information about opportunities.
The latest U.S. Census data shows that Latino high school graduates are expected to represent 17 percent of total U.S. secondary graduates by 2012; yet, according to the Institute of International Education, of the nearly 175,000 U.S. students who participate in study abroad programs, only 5.4 percent are Latinos. Increasing this participation rate is a challenge that Laureate International Universities and HACU are addressing through the creation of this program.
''Study abroad offers an ideal opportunity for students to extend themselves beyond their familiar surroundings and expand their education outside of the classroom,'' said Joseph Duffey, Laureate's Senior Vice President for Educational Strategy. ''The HACU-Laureate International Scholarship Program offers students an invaluable opportunity to learn and live in a foreign country, providing them with a well-rounded undergraduate experience that will impact their lives and professional pursuits.''
Antonio Flores, President and CEO of HACU said, ''An educational experience abroad allows students to become more competitive in an increasingly international job market. This is a unique opportunity for the students of our member institutions to attend a leading university abroad and serve as champions of Hispanic success in higher education.''
Each Laureate institution brings to the network an established reputation for educational and academic excellence, sensitivity to local culture and tradition, and a dedication to delivering the highest quality education with an international perspective. Students who are accepted into the HACU-Laureate International Scholarship Program will have the opportunity to spend up to one full year at schools in Spain, Mexico, Ecuador, France, Chile, Honduras, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Panama or Peru.
To apply to the HACU-Laureate International Scholarship Program, students from HACU member schools can go online (www.internationalscholarships.net or www.becasinternacioanles.net in Spanish), call the special information number (866) 219-3658 or speak with a financial aid or study coordinator at their school.
About Laureate Education, Inc.
Laureate Education Inc. (NASDAQ:LAUR) is focused exclusively on providing a superior university experience to over 170,000 students through the leading global network of accredited campus-based and online universities. Addressing the rapidly growing global demand for higher education, Laureate offers a broad range of career-oriented undergraduate and graduate programs through campus-based universities located in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Through online universities, Laureate offers the growing population of non-traditional, working-adult students the convenience and flexibility of distance learning to pursue undergraduate, master's and doctorate degree programs in major career fields including engineering, education, business, and healthcare. For more information, please visit our website, www.laureate.net.
About HACU - The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) was established in 1986 and today represents more than 400 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America and Spain. Although HACU member institutions in the U. S. represent less than 10% of all higher education institutions nationwide, together they are home to more than three-fourths of all Hispanic college students. HACU is the only national educational association that represents Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).
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