More students at Georgia's public colleges and universities are studying abroad than ever before, and officials at the university system say they're picking up more than a love of fine wine and funny accents.

Richard Sutton, the senior adviser for academic affairs and director of international programs, told the state Board of Regents on Wednesday that students who go overseas perform better academically after they get back and have higher graduation rates.

The system recently received a $500,000 federal grant