"As this encyclopedic work shows, what we do today has deep roots. From the earliest days, international scholars and students were vital parts of the great academies of learning. This History proves they still are." -- Allan E. Goodman , President and CEO at the Institute of International Education, USA This book examines the origins of higher learning, and then traces education exchange to the aftermath of World War II, when the United States was internationally recognized as the epicenter of critical thinking and scientific discovery. As centers of learning arose in the ancient world, the gathering of students they drew invariably included "foreigners"--those not native to the immediate local area. Then as now, inquisitive minds compelled humans to explore, crossing borders to seek enlightenment in faraway places before returning to their homelands. Few societies have been so remote that they could not be affected by the acquisition of imported information.

The number of international students and scholars in the United States now exceeds one million. This book narrates the complex and colorful history of intrepid individuals, inspired programs, and world events that have given direction to the path of education exchange, as well as the global dissemination of American scholarship.