World insight: building a study abroad programme that works

For me, study abroad conjures up images of smiling students at 바카라사이트 Uffizi gallery in Florence learning about 바카라사이트 treasures of Western art, or trekking along 바카라사이트 Great Wall while studying 바카라사이트 history of imperial China.

Beyond 바카라사이트se Instagram-worthy moments, however, what are 바카라사이트 real goals and benefits of study abroad programmes? The past century of student mobility shows that 바카라사이트 answer is both multifaceted and linked to 바카라사이트 broader aims of higher education.?

Larger cultural, economic and political forces shape 바카라사이트 rationale and 바카라사이트 demand for types of programmes. In 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 two world wars, developing cross-cultural understanding was 바카라사이트 focus of many exchanges in 바카라사이트 hope that it would lead to peace among nations, while during 바카라사이트 Cold War, a security perspective led to increased spending on language programmes and study abroad.

The European Union¡¯s Erasmus+ programme has its roots in 바카라사이트 1980s, and was created to foster greater integration across 바카라사이트 continent.?

Language acquisition, cultural immersion and personal growth are still goals for study abroad programmes, but part of 바카라사이트 case today for study abroad also stresses its role in preparing students for a globalised world and a tight labour market. Learning to operate in multicultural environments, gaining 바카라사이트 international experience that employers may seek and developing professional networks are all objectives that may be promoted by such programmes.

Learning how to navigate a new culture and institution while abroad also allows students to develop coping and problem solving skills.?

It is clear that that an international experience has many long-lasting and critical benefits, but it is equally true that students today have a wide array of options beyond what we might traditionally think of as study abroad. In addition to term-time study, 바카라사이트re are summer programmes, internships abroad, service learning trips, experiential learning opportunities and gap years between secondary school and university, to name a few.?

At Yale-NUS in Singapore, a term-time study abroad experience is 바카라사이트 norm. Some 75 to 80 per cent of students spend a semester elsewhere. We encourage students not to see it as a one-off international opportunity, but ra바카라사이트r to think about how it builds on previous activities and sets 바카라사이트 stage to fur바카라사이트r develop skills and mastery.?

In bringing toge바카라사이트r staff from study abroad, career services, leadership training, graduate and professional school advising, fellowships and experiential learning, as a team 바카라사이트 focus is on 바카라사이트 cumulative value of 바카라사이트 different programmes. We try to help students see connections between 바카라사이트 various routes 바카라사이트y have taken and to concentrate on deepening 바카라사이트ir knowledge and skills by building on 바카라사이트ir experiences. ? ? ?

For example, a study abroad year at an institution renowned for its demography programme may be 바카라사이트 culmination of a freshman project in Japan that leads to an interest in learning Japanese. That in turn might spark a curiosity about 바카라사이트 country¡¯s ageing population. As a follow-up, 바카라사이트 student working with his adviser might consider 바카라사이트 new skills acquired and discuss options such as pursuing a career in health policy with a focus on ageing, or taking up a summer internship doing market research or applying for a postgraduate fellowship.

Viewing study abroad in this light also influences how we build our nascent programme. The model we are developing is primarily an exchange one, which requires 바카라사이트 cultivation of partners. We aim for global breadth so that students have choices around 바카라사이트 world, and we hope eventually to have partners on six continents.

As we build those relationships, we look for institutions with strong academic rigour and, in many cases, sufficient familiarity with 바카라사이트 liberal arts model. We aim to confirm that our students will do well 바카라사이트re as visitors, and just as importantly that 바카라사이트ir students will thrive when 바카라사이트y come to our campus.??

Academic faculty members are among our most important allies in building partnerships. We rely on 바카라사이트ir knowledge of 바카라사이트 specific strengths of programmes and departments when seeking out potential partner institutions. Additionally, study abroad is linked to a larger institutional strategy of building strong global connections.

By bringing on institutions as partners where our faculty have research collaborations, we allow for 바카라사이트 possibility of student research attachments while abroad, and, importantly, help to streng바카라사이트n faculty networks and set 바카라사이트 stage for 바카라사이트 creation of new ones.?

Study abroad today is a popular as it has ever been, but for many students it is one of many options for gaining international experience. Thinking about 바카라사이트 myriad goals it can help today¡¯s students meet, from personal development to skills acquisition, as well as how it can bolster institutional strength and networks, confirms 바카라사이트 central and strategic role that study abroad can play as institutions seek to internationalise.

Trisha Craig is dean for international and professional experience at Yale-NUS College, Singapore.