A young undergraduate arrives jet-lagged from India on his first trip to America to begin study at one of this country's meccas for higher learning, Penn State University.

Only the taxi from the airport takes him not to the campus of Joe Paterno, the vaunted creamery or research halls with tens of thousands of students, but instead to a woodsy and remote tract in Westmoreland County where some 820 students, mostly commuters, await.

Penn State New Kensington, which serves towns such as Shaler, Natrona Heights and Apollo, seems an unlikely destination for students from Mumbai, Beijing and Seoul. But the campus and several other Penn State branches are making a push to attract such overseas students, including those from India, the largest exporter of students to the U.S.

Experts who today are releasing a national report on the surge of international students say one of the reasons for that growth is active recruiting by campuses not normally associated with foreign visitors.

The number of international students studying in America grew by 8 percent to 671,616 during 2008-09, the biggest one-year percentage increase in almost three decades, according to the annual "Open Doors" report from the Institute of International Education. The growth, much of it fueled by an increase in undergraduates from China, follows gains of 7 percent and 3 percent the last two years, according to authors of the comprehensive survey of approximately 3,000 campuses.

The growth appears to be continuing this fall, but at a slower pace, with the recession as one possible enrollment drag, according to a more limited survey of roughly 700 campuses conducted last month by the institute and several other groups.

"What remains clear is the continued strong presence of America's diverse range of higher education institutions in the international marketplace, and the need for campuses to do continued and vigorous outreach during tough economic times," said Allan E. Goodman, president and CEO of the institute.

The institute also cited continued strong growth in Americans studying abroad.

At Penn State New Kensington, whose fall enrollment is the fourth smallest of the university's 20 campuses, interest in overseas recruiting is rooted in both academics and the campus bottom line.

In an era that demands global competency from students, "We have got to expose them to people from different cultures," said Kevin Snider, Penn State New Kensington's chancellor. "It adds a different perspective to students when they are in situations where they have to live, study and work with people from different backgrounds."

The other reason to look abroad involves Western Pennsylvania's declining population.

In his office, Dr. Snider pulls out a placard and points to a shaded zone representing a 30-minute drive to campus, the area responsible for more than 80 percent of the campus enrollment. The problem, he says, is population in that zone is projected to decline by 12 percent through 2016.

"We have got to supplement that with other populations," Dr. Snider said. "International students, because of the value they add through diversity, are a terrific opportunity."

A handful of international students study at New Kensington, officials said. But working in a consortium with seven other campuses, including Penn State Greater Allegheny, Dr. Snider said his school wants to raise that number to between 50 and 100 students in five years.

That could begin as soon as 2011 with arrival of its first 10 or so Indian students. Enrolled currently at universities in that country, they and others are being recruited by the consortium into a "2-plus-2" program enabling them to finish the last half of a bachelor's degree in information sciences and technology at Penn State.

Dr. Snider sees potential for a similar program with China, and recently, the New Kensington campus hosted a delegation from that country's Liaoning Normal University. He said the Middle East and Africa may one day be tapped as well.

Should anyone doubt the possibilities, Dr. Snider points to another branch, Penn State York, which spearheaded the consortium. Five years ago, it had four international students. It now has 29 from India, China, Korea, the Middle East and Europe -- a small fraction of York's enrollment of 1,500, but nevertheless a sevenfold increase.

"We're not just talking about it," said Penn State York Chancellor Joel M. Rodney. "We're doing it."

Penn State Greater Allegheny, in McKeesport, began its own push for overseas enrollment even before the consortium. The campus now counts 23 students from countries that include Nicaragua, Italy, Brazil, China, Korea and Costa Rica.

At both campuses, globalization is being felt in big and small ways, from cricket matches popping up in York to the election over the last few years at Greater Allegheny of student government officers from India and Singapore.

"I think we see a great deal more respect for differences. Respect for others," said Penn State Greater Allegheny Chancellor Curtiss E. Porter. "It's a most excellent feeling."

According to the Open Doors report, the top five countries of origin accounted for half the international enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities in 2008-09.

Leading the list was India, sending 103,260 students, 9 percent more than the previous year. China was second with 98,235 students, up by 21 percent, followed by South Korea, with 75,065 students, a 9 percent increase.

Canada, the only non-Asian country in the top five, was fourth with 29,697 students, up by 2 percent. Japan was fifth despite a 14 percent decline to 29,264 students, its fourth consecutive yearly loss that experts say is the result of declines in both the country's economy and number of high school graduates.

Besides China, countries with increases greater than 20 percent were Vietnam, Saudi Arabia and Nepal. In all, 19 of the top 25 countries of origin saw gains from the previous year.

In this state, the University of Pennsylvania in 2008-09 had the largest international enrollment, 4,635 students, followed by Penn State's main campus, 3,741; Carnegie Mellon University, 3,299; the University of Pittsburgh main campus, 2,216; and Drexel University, 2,007.

In this fall's survey, 50 percent of campuses reported continued growth, down from 57 percent last fall. Twenty-four percent reported a decline and the rest remained roughly even with a year ago.

At Pitt, the global financial crisis so far has not dampened student interest from overseas, though there have been "infrequent" instances of a student's family or sponsor reporting a change in their ability to pay, said Charles Nieman, associate director of the office of international services. "We're continuing to see a trend of increased international enrollment," he said.

At Penn State New Kensington, the campus this year has identified India as its country of focus, and photos and books of that nation are displayed in campus locations. It's one more way to encourage the community to think globally.

The campus may be remote, but some interviewed said an enrollment small enough that students smile and make eye contact with strangers actually might ease an international student's adjustment.

"Everybody here is really welcoming," said Haley Shaffer, 19, a sophomore from Apollo. "I think it would be a good thing for the school."

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