Study Abroad Providers Plot Future for Russia Programs

The large number of travel companies that have withdrawn from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine include numerous study abroad organizations. Many of them have suspended programs and recalled students they had in Russia, citing difficulties caused by Western sanctions and the immediate need to repatriate students due to limited flights out of the country.

But several such organizations are working to provide students alternatives to studying in Russia and also making preparations for an eventual return to the country. Russia welcomed more than 324,000 international students last year, a 9,000-student increase from the 2019-20 academic year.

So where might study and travel abroad providers turn to to conduct programs they would have run in Russia? Several are looking at neighboring countries.

"Realistically, we would look at a Russian-speaking (area) that's not in Russia," said Dana Thompson, the Russia program manag