Study Abroad Prepares Students for Life
Published: July 26, 2017 | Author: Abigail Wyatt | Read Time: 2 minutes
According to a report from the Institute of International Education (IIE), study abroad does more than boost your resume. IIE President Dr. Allan Goodman believes the world and the workforce are becoming more globalized every day. In his opinion students need to gain an international experience which he believes to be vital for career success and mutual understanding.
For that very reason Southern Utah University is working to increase study abroad opportunities for students and make it financially attainable. They awarded $86,750 in study abroad scholarships in the 2016-17 academic school year alone.
The SUU study abroad program, which is organized through the Office of Learning Abroad, took more than 350 students abroad for a total of 2,280 days to 20 different countries from India to Peru.
Andria Burdick, a junior criminal justice and chemistry major from Loveland, Colorado, traveled to Nicaragua to learn about landscape and animal life. She surprised herself by how adventurous she was during her trip. She hiked, kayaked, visited wildlife reserves, hunted insects and tried traditional food.
“College is a time for growth and self-discovery,” said Burdick, “and there is no better way to measure that growth than to immerse yourself in a foreign country.”
Ammon Treasure traveled to India to expand his anthropological studies. He is a senior anthropology major from southern Utah who enjoys travel and experiencing the world’s incredible diversity. He believes every student should go on a study abroad.
“Regardless of one’s area of study there is a study abroad opportunity out there that is the perfect fit,” explained Treasure. “It might be as simple as taking a bus down to Mexico for the weekend or a lengthy stay halfway around the world. Investing in travel is the gift of a lifetime of memories.”
Taylor Morgan is a junior psychology major from Irvine, California. She just returned from a study abroad to Spain where she visited historical sites, watched bull fighting and learned valuable lessons from another culture.
“I learned to adopt a beginner’s mind while in Spain,” said Morgan. “In other words, I learned to observe and process another culture with an open mind and try to experience things from their point of view. It’s important to be culturally aware and respectful.”
Studying abroad provides the opportunity to take education out of the classroom and into the world. Students are able to learn from different cultures, find new interests, serve, improve language skills, make lifelong friends and become more prepared to help solve future global challenges.
To learn more about the SUU study abroad program, visit the SUU Office of Learning Abroad.Tags: International Affairs
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