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Penn State, University of Notre Dame, University of Kentucky and Pacific Lutheran University participated in a recent study showing that employers value study abroad when evaluating job applicants. “In general, study abroad has been viewed positively,” said Robert Domingo, a research associate at Penn State, in an interview with The Daily Collegian. In the same survey, which included 352 employers, the preferred academic major was ranked as the most desirable by employers, and the completion of a major or minor in a foreign language was ranked second. Studying abroad is in third place.
In a recent study of 119 employers conducted by the University of North Carolina Career Center at Chapel Hill, 59% of respondents said that studying abroad or other international experience, other than an internship, was very valuable to a person or something career would be valuable later with their organization.
Study abroad programs are becoming increasingly attractive as more college students seek meaningful ways to spend their study breaks or explore the true diversity of cultures. When students return and share their positive experiences, others also sign up to go abroad.
Two great resources for students considering studying abroad are StudyAbroad.com and Semester at Sea.
StudyAbroad.com is a comprehensive online resource for information on educational opportunities for high school, college, or graduate students wishing to study in other countries. It includes information on summer programs, internships, service learning programs, and overseas volunteer opportunities. The information is easy to understand and sorted by topic, country or city.
The semester at sea, administered by the Institute for Shipboard Education, receives academic support from the University of Virginia, where students can apply for a 2007 summer voyage loan. On this journey, students will traverse the west coast of Central America and South America. Stations this summer are Chile, Peru, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Financial aid is available to help the students cover the cost of over $8000 for the little over two months of voyage aboard the floating university. The fall 2007 voyage is scheduled to make stops in Japan, Thailand, China and India, while Puerto Rico, Brazil, South Africa and Mauritius are scheduled for the spring 2008 voyage.
No study abroad program is without risk, and every due diligence should be exercised by students and parents to ensure that these experiences do not end with less than positive outcomes. Some general advice for staying safe while studying abroad is as follows, including some tips from the University of Chicago’s Study Abroad program:
1. Be alert at all times. Remember that you are in an unfamiliar environment
2. Trust your instincts
3. Be careful and careful with your cash
4. Observe political gatherings from a distance
5. Find out where the nearest police station, hospital and embassy are
6. Stay sober and stay away from drugs and alcohol. This is not the time to lose focus
7. Be extra vigilant on public transport and in public places
8. Watch out for new friendships that develop too quickly
9. Make copies of all your important papers. Keep a set of copies with you and leave one at home.
10. Be inconspicuous and try to blend in as much as possible. Avoid being the noisy tourist
11. Check in at your home often. Have some routine so people back home know when you’re off schedule.
Thanks to Dr. Marcia F. Robinson | #Employers #Candidates #Study
