It is important to understand international education best practices as you make decisions about which study abroad options your office will promote, support, approve, and/or affiliate with. What are the priorities of your institution and how do those priorities fit with various study abroad options? In the same way your institution allows students to choose their major and a variety of academic avenues to earn a diploma, it is also necessary to encourage a variety of study abroad options for students. There is not one “ideal” study abroad program or type. Think of it as providing a “portfolio” of options for students to choose from. Different types of programs will produce different outcomes. Things to consider when reviewing/ promoting programs:
- Length of program
- Geographic location
- Language of host country
- Academic standards and structure
- Academic curriculum choices
- Immersion in host culture
- Interactions with locals
- Housing
- Safety and emergency services
- Orientation services
- Utilization of host country resources
- On-site staff
- Cost
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Your study abroad Japan experience will not only take you to the world’s tenth most populated country, but it will also take you to a land that values both deep-rooted traditions and modern-day progressions.
Your semester abroad can include visiting Sens%u014D-ji, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple that features the Kaminarimon Gate, a massive entrance that is decorated with traditional paper lanterns and huge statues of Japanese gods.
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Studying abroad was one of the best decisions I made during my college years. I spent the winter term of my senior year in South Africa and Lesotho (another country in Africa that is landlocked within South Africa). There is no type of text book learning that can come close to the learning you acquire through travel and hands-on experience. The world is huge. There is so much more outside your country’s borders. Your school may have a year, semester, summer term, winter term, or even a week abroad. Take advantage of at least one of these opportunities.
I chose South Africa because I was inspired by Nelson Mandela’s plight for freedom. After listening to his lecture at my university three years prior, the love he had for his country was contagious. If you study abroad, choose a country that has a history, culture, and people that interest you.
The entire time in Lesotho and South Africa I was thinking, “Why in the world didn’t I study abroad every year?” No matter what your major is, you can find a course that is applicable to either your major or your general interest. The course in South Africa was called “Exploring World Issues: South Africa and Lesotho.” We spent the majority of our twenty-two-day program in Lesotho. There are no words to describe the beautiful landscape and warmness of the people. And I earned three credits for a life-changing experience! Continue Reading…
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