TROY – An invitation to a national summit is recognition of Troy University’s leadership in international education.

Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. will participate in the U.S. University Presidents Summit on International Education in Washington, D.C., Thursday and Friday. The summit is co-hosted by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings.

“Troy University’s invitation to participate in the Presidents Summit is recognition of our hard work to advance international education in Alabama,” Dr. Hawkins said.

Hawkins will be joined at the summit by other higher education leaders from all 50 states to renew a partnership to strengthen international education. The University, which operates more than 60 sites in 17 U.S. states and 12 foreign nations in addition to its four Alabama campuses, outpaced other American universities in bringing international students to its Troy campus by posting a 43 percent growth in its international enrollment.

In addition, the University also offers online degree programs, is the second largest education provider in the Army’s eArmyU program and is pioneering joint-degree programs in universities in China, Russia and Australia.

The summit will focus on how to attract foreign students and scholars to the United States, as well as how to encourage more American students to receive part of their education abroad. Also included will be discussions on marketing, reaching underserved populations, visa and regulatory issues and key investments to foster international education.