Why Study Abroad?
Study abroad offers you a unique and valuable experience—the opportunity not only to study, but also to immerse yourself in another country and culture, thus expanding your view of the world. While working to fulfill major and minor coursework requirements, you also have an unparalleled opportunity to acquire firsthand knowledge of another culture, develop or improve fluency in another language, and gain a global perspective. Your time abroad will be full of vivid and amazing experiences that you will remember for the rest of your life, no matter where you choose to go.
Beyond fostering a broader world-view, programs abroad also change the way you view yourself. The intensity of the experience will stretch you in unexpected ways, and give you increased confidence in your own capabilities.
In addition to personal growth and enrichment, students who participate in programs abroad learn valuable interpersonal and life-skills, which better prepare them for the professional realm. Universities and employers around the world are becoming increasingly attuned to the importance of inter-cultural communication and ‘global intelligence’. Numerous institutions have implemented study abroad as a mandatory degree requirement. Employers agree that candidates with an international study experience are likely to possess cross-cultural communication skills, flexibility, leadership skills, autonomy, innovation, maturity, presentation skills, ambition, independence and cultural awareness.
There are several distinct classes of benefits that have been identified by education specialists as being distinctive results of study abroad experiences. Research and surveys have been conducted during extended periods of time in order to establish a high level of accuracy concerning these categories.
Personal development
Personal development may initially seem a vague term that is based on the relativity of various contexts and student types/personalities. Despite the ambiguity of the term, the majority of students who studied abroad report similar changes that they noticed given their experiences. Having to become fully immersed in a different culture and society while also resolving internal tensions require a high level of openness toward the newly encountered cultural elements and a willingness to adapt and positively respond to linguistic, behavioral, ideological challenges. Such an attitude determines the attainment of a higher global awareness, triggers a process of self-evaluation (including an evaluation of one’s own nation and culture), and creates the context for a comprehensive understanding of the role and importance of tolerance and inter-cultural communication.
Inter-cultural experiences determine the students’ growth at an individual level and the attainment of a holistic understanding of the contemporary global situation (along with its positive and negative aspects). According to an extensive survey performed by IES (Institute for the Education of Students), 96% of the students experienced an increase in self-confidence, 97% recognized the study abroad experience as “catalyst for increased maturity”, and 95% stated that study abroad “had a lasting impact on world view”.
Academic Commitment
Study abroad programs and courses are fundamentally academic in nature and have distinct scholarly and research-based objectives. It is crucial to point out that such programs are not mere opportunities for tourism rather they are serious academic endeavors that are often part of degree curricula. Universities around the world are increasingly becoming more sensitive to the importance of inter-cultural communication and numerous institutions have implemented study abroad as a mandatory degree requirement.
According to the same IES survey, 80% of the students had an “enhanced interest in academic study” given their experiences abroad, 87% identified study abroad as an important influence in their further educational experiences, and 86% of the students actively engaged in the study and reinforcement of foreign languages.
Intercultural Development
Intercultural development is one of the primary goals of study abroad programs. Students are expected to acquire intercultural communication skills, critical skills, political, historical, and geographical knowledge of other cultures, global awareness, national awareness, efficiency in their field of study, and first and foremost an understanding of the contemporary inter-national context, its problems and potential solutions. Intercultural development stands for the level of sensitivity that individuals can attain with regard to other cultures and nations, and their willingness to actively engage in finding answers to the grave problems that the global community is experiencing.
The IES survey found that 98% of the students achieved a better understanding of their own cultural values, 90% understood the value of cultural diversity, and 94% continued to interact with people from other cultures.
New Perspective on World Affairs
Study abroad can broaden your intellectual horizons and deepen your knowledge and understanding of international, political, and economic issues. It is almost certain that you will return from your sojourn abroad with a more informed and accurate perspective on world affairs. You will also have first-hand knowledge of how another culture approaches the tasks and challenges of everyday life, a sense of how ‘global’ the international culture has become, and an appreciation of the importance of international cooperation.
You will probably also gain a broader understanding of, and appreciation for, the United States, its way of life, and its role in international affairs. Through your professors, the other students in your program, and people you meet, you’ll learn how others view the United States and its world role. If you live in a country where English is not the native language, or is spoken only by some, you will learn the practical importance of learning another language and using it.
Career Development
A very significant consequence of study abroad is the students’ acquiring an extended range of critical, practical, academic, and linguistic skills that are indispensable in their professional development and maturing. Such skills give students a crucial advantage on any job market given the nature contemporary global communication and inter-cultural interaction. The IES study revealed that 76% of the students who studied abroad “acquired skill sets that influenced career path”, and 62% were opted for a different career path after their experience.
Other surveys emphasize the fact that US citizens (and students) realize the importance of study abroad experiences and are interested in pursuing degrees and careers while also becoming opened to other cultures. Universities that offer study abroad opportunities rank higher in student and parent preferences, and are also known to offer a strong, quality-based academic and professional foundation.
According to NAFSA (Association for International Educators) , 90% of the Americans consider necessary the attainment of inter-cultural knowledge and skills, 92% recognize the importance of foreign languages in professional/career success, 77% value study abroad programs, 86% would like their children to study at institutions where they could interact with foreign students, and 94% recognize study abroad as the way to understanding other cultures, and becoming globally aware.
What are Your Reasons? What are Your Goals?
After considering these potential benefits, you must still ask yourself why you, yourself, want to study abroad. Take some time to think about your reasons, for they will become your goals and your personal measures of success. Perhaps you want to learn a second language, or perfect one you already know. You might want to learn about another culture, diversify your studies, or prepare for graduate school. Maybe you want to travel and meet new people. Whatever your reasons are, write them down and share them with your professors, family, friends and, most importantly, with your study abroad advisor.
There are a host of valid reasons for wanting to experience foreign study. Whatever your reasons, they should be positive ones. Study abroad should not be seen as an escape route from problems at home or on campus. Adjusting to life and learning in a foreign environment will have its stressful moments, and the more you are able to focus on your goals, the more you’re likely to benefit from the experience.