By Patrick Baron

NORMAL – Illinois State University is teaming up with INTO University Partnerships to increase the number of international students enrolled at the school.

ISU currently has around 400 international students attending classes, which is about two percent of ISU’s overall student population. Media Relations Director Eric Jome explained the university wants to see that number jump to 10 percent in 10 years.

“Partnering with an organization like INTO, we’re able to leverage their global outreach, marketing, and also recruitment efforts,” said Jome.

However, Jome noted whatever steps ISU takes to increase international enrollment, students from the United States looking to attend ISU won’t be sidelined.

“One thing that we do continue to emphasize is that in our efforts to increase international enrollment, we are not taking anything away from domestic enrollment,” Jome explained.

Jome said in an increasingly global world, it’s crucial for young students to get a sense of what it’s like to live in a country that’s far from home.

“It’s very important that we all have a greater understanding of the rest of the world and that the rest of the world has a greater understanding of life here in the United States,” said Jome.

ISU also has around 60 foreign exchange students enrolled in classes.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].