The past eight years have witnessed a steady growth in Clayton State University’s international "footprint."   Since 1998, Clayton State has steadily increased the number of students participating in overseas programs, providing scholarships that have enabled more than 150 students to study in England, France, Russia, Italy and Chile, through the Student Study Abroad Programs directed by Dr. Robert Welborn.

In fall 2004, Professor Rajgopal Sashti, an individual with more than 35 years of experience in international education, joined Clayton State and thereby established the University as the headquarters of the Nine University and College International Studies Consortium of Georgia. The overall objectives of the Consortium extend through the range of international education including participant training, faculty exchange and academic course work both in Georgia and overseas. 

Under Sashti’s leadership, Clayton State has been awarded five prestigious Fulbright-Hays grants -- direct and matching grants for $420,000 by federal agencies, non-profit organizations and corporations to promote faculty/curriculum development and student study abroad. These grants have enabled more than 60 faculty members and 25 students to study and travel in Argentina, Chile, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa to learn more about current social, political, economic and business climates. 

In addition to these efforts, in 2003 Clayton State President Dr. Thomas Harden and five members of a trade delegation from the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce visited Hungary, Romania and the Czech Republic for 10 days. As a result of this visit, three music students and a faculty member were invited to perform at the esteemed Liszt Academy in Budapest. In 2004 the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce’s International Promotions Council awarded the University the "International Business of the Year Award." 

More recently, President Harden formed an International Education Business Advisory Council and invited a cross-section of business and community leaders from the Southern Crescent to the campus to share his vision for the future.

The Clayton State University Foundation has provided $22,500 to help support study abroad scholarships, and the college has received $17,000 in matching funds from the Regents International Office for student scholarships.  A dozen faculty members have taught in summer study abroad programs and thirty-five faculty members have participated in faculty development international seminars in various locations such as South Africa, China, Chile, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Israel, Egypt, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Greece, India, and Mexico.