Embark.com and NAFSA to Build Internet Education Hub for International Students

SAN FRANCISCO (PROTEXT) - Embark.com today announced a newpartnership with NAFSA: Association of International Educators,to build a comprehensive International Student hub on theEmbark.com Web site (www.embark.com). The new international hubwill provide authoritative information and guidance for studentswho want to study outside their home countries, as well asinteractive features such as school searches and onlineapplications. Under the terms of the agreement, NAFSA will be the exclusiveprovider of content for the hub, while Embark.com will build andhost the site on its extensive online network for students andeducational institutions around the world. The new, specializedinformation center will include: -- Life and Work in the U.S.: The Impact of CulturalDifferences -- Is U.S. Study Right for You? -- The U.S. System of Higher Education in a Global Context -- Federal Laws and Regulations Affecting Your Stay in theU.S. -- Locate the U.S. Educational Advising Center Nearest You -- Find the Program That's Right for You "This exciting new project addresses NAFSA's strategic goal tocreate a baseline of information about studying in the UnitedStates and abroad," said Marlene Johnson, CEO/Executive Directorof NAFSA. "Our partnership with Embark.com, which is leading arevolution in the way students select and apply to institutionsof higher learning, will dramatically increase the profile of ourorganization. "More importantly," Johnson continued, "by cooperating withEmbark.com's efforts on the Internet, we will be able to extendour organization's knowledge and expertise directly to studentswho need it, all over the world, in a way that would have beeninconceivable a few years ago. "The content NAFSA will provide on our website will giveaspiring students a truly comprehensive resource about studyabroad, helping make higher education more accessible to morepeople," said Young J. Shin, president and CEO of Embark.com, anonline guide for exploring and applying to institutions of highereducation. "It will also provide our higher education partnerswith a new and effective vehicle to reach and recruit studentsfrom around the world." The Market "For students who want to study outside their home countries,researching and applying to school can be a difficult and time-consuming process," said Shin. Applications need to be requested,sent via international mail, and returned, all within a narrowwindow of time. Being able to access comprehensive informationabout undergraduate and graduate institutions, as well asapplications, via the Internet offers a significant advantage tothis student segment. According to NAFSA, more than 1.2 million students worldwidepursue higher education outside their home countries, with morethan 470,000 of those studying in the United States. At the sametime, Internet accessibility and usage in foreign countries isgrowing rapidly. By 2003, there are estimated to be 350 millionInternet users worldwide compared to 130 million users in 1999. To address this market and its needs, Embark.com has alreadypartnered with SINA.com to provide educational content to Chinesespeakers worldwide, and also works with international educationalorganizations like the Chinese Ministry of Education and theJapanese Foundation for International Education. About Embark.com Embark.com is a leading provider of online products andservices to facilitate the achievement of higher education goals.Embark.com's Web-based services allow colleges and universities,high schools, middle schools, community colleges, community youthprograms, students, and parents to more efficiently managecritical steps in the transition to higher education, includingschool selection, recruiting, and admissions. About NAFSA NAFSA: Association of International Educators promotes theexchange of students and scholars to and from the United States,with its members serving in advisory roles on college anduniversity campuses nationwide. Helping students and scholarsfrom diverse educational and cultural backgrounds make the mostof a stay outside their home countries requires special knowledgeand competencies. NAFSA members foster optimal exchangeexperiences by anticipating and responding to the needs ofstudents engaged in the unique and challenging experience ofcrossing borders to study. NAFSA's members -- numbering more than 8,500 universitypersonnel and community volunteers from all 50 states and 80countries -- share a belief that international educationalexchange advances learning and scholarship, builds respect amongdifferent peoples, and encourages constructive leadership in aglobal community. ots Original Text Service: Embark.comInternet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Katie Madden ofEmbark.com, 415-615-1652, or kmadden@embark.com; or Bill Bourdonof Niehaus Ryan Wong, Inc., 650-827-7072, or bbill@nrwpr.com, forEmbark.com; or Christine Boucher, 202-737-3699, ext. 219, forNAFSA Web site: http://www.embark.com

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