Education

INTO University Partnerships and Oregon State University Commemorate a Decade and a Half of Impactful Alliance

News TeamApril 4, 202436 Comments0416

INTO University Partnerships alongside Oregon State University (OSU) are celebrating a significant milestone of 15 years of collaboration, which has revolutionised the educational landscape for numerous international students.

Initiated in 2008 to enhance OSU’s international presence, this partnership has been instrumental in providing a comprehensive suite of academic support and services to international students. These offerings range from direct entry to meticulously designed preparatory programmes across all undergraduate fields, as well as an extensive array of postgraduate qualifications at the University. Notably, OSU is recognised among the top 1.4% of universities worldwide and ranks in the top 20% in the US for the earning potential of its graduates.

The INTO OSU Centre, nestled within the historic precincts of the OSU campus, acts as a vibrant hub of education, where students benefit from an added layer of both academic and personal support, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the staff and faculty.

As the first establishment of its kind in the US, the centre has aided in the academic achievements of over 11,900 international students hailing from more than 155 countries, enabling them to excel in their chosen academic paths. Moreover, INTO OSU-supported students have represented all of OSU’s 11 academic colleges at the doctoral level.

Edward Feser, Provost and Executive Vice President at Oregon State University and INTO OSU Board Member, commented: “In 15 years of collaboration, the INTO Oregon State University partnership helped bring more than 12,000 international students to OSU. This has strengthened the university by enriching the intercultural experiences of domestic students; providing support for faculty hires, infrastructure, and study abroad opportunities; influencing improvements to our academic program mix; and elevating OSU’s global visibility and brand.”

John Sykes, CEO of INTO University Partnerships, reflected: “Our partnership with Oregon State University marked a real breakthrough moment in US public universities’ approach to internationalizing the student experience. We could not be prouder of our partnership and what it has accomplished. It has been a privilege to watch the life-changing experiences this great American university has delivered to the thousands of Chinese students who made Corvallis their home.”

Bob Gilmour, INTO OSU’s Executive Director, shared: “At INTO OSU, we’re so proud of the students we have supported over the last 15 years and the range of academic, personal, and professional successes that they have gone on to achieve. Over that time, it’s really been an honor to have been a part of a team of people at INTO OSU that shows up every day to put students first and provide them with the support and experience that they deserve.

“With both INTO and OSU’s combined efforts, this pioneering Centre has played a significant role in raising the standards and expectations for international student support in higher education from application to graduation and beyond. And as a team, we at INTO OSU look forward to the next 15 years with as much passion and excitement as the day this innovative model was conceived.”

The partnership continues to demonstrate remarkable student satisfaction and retention rates. OSU’s introduction of International Direct Services in 2020, providing personalised academic and personal support to all international first-year undergraduates, has contributed to a successful transition into their OSU degree programmes. Since the inception of INTO OSU, the retention rates for first-year students have reached an impressive 95%.

INTO University Partnerships plays a pivotal role in connecting driven international students with prestigious universities in the US, UK, and Australia. Since its establishment in 2005, INTO has supported over 150,000 students from 180 countries in achieving their dream of earning a degree from a top-tier university.