The International Space University: Past, Present and Future
- Paper number
IAC-05-E1.2.05
- Author
Mr. Ian Pryke, George Mason University, United States
- Coauthor
Mrs. Margaret G. Finarelli, International Space University (ISU), United States
- Year
2005
- Abstract
The International Space University (ISU) was founded in 1987. In the intervening years, it has grown from a small office engaged in the organization of annual summer sessions at host institutions around the world. It is now a mature educational institution with its own campus, offering numerous programs including, in addition to the two-month summer program, one-year Masters degrees in space studies and space management. To date, more than 2200 students from 85 different countries have graduated from these programs and now form the global network of ISU alumni involved in space activities worldwide. This paper begins with an overview of ISU’s development, including its unique interdisciplinary, international and intercultural approach to graduate-level space-related education; the establishment of its Central Campus in Strasbourg, France; and its accreditation as an \"Establishment of Higher Education\" by the Government of France. Current status is then reviewed along with a summary of the various educational products now offered by the University, their impact on students seeking space-sector careers and the manner in which student enrollment and demographics have evolved. The final portion of the paper concerns ISU’s plans for the coming years, as it seeks to adapt itself to serve the needs of a rapidly evolving space sector.
- Abstract document