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Shaping Perspectives through Study Abroad
Our world is shaped by the economic, social, and political interdependence of the nations inhabiting it, demanding a citizenry that is well educated about international issues and culturally sensitive. The College of Business Administration helps ensure UNIBusiness students have the opportunity to develop these attributes through curriculum as well as various international opportunities such as Study Abroad.
The value of an international experience such as Study Abroad is beyond measure, and includes the following benefits:
- Increased language competency and cultural fluency;
- An enhanced global perspective of the world, returning home with greater political awareness and knowledge of global interdependence;
- Increased self-esteem, autonomy, self-confidence, flexibility, maturity, self-reliance, improved social skills, and a greater toleration for ambiguity; and
- Discovery of new career paths and/or direct development of skills relevant to professional goals.
UNIBusiness students had the following to say about their recent Study Abroad experiences:
“My experience abroad helped prepare me to deal with such a range of personalities and work ethics which differed greatly from my own. At the very minimum I had one of the greatest summers of my life and can claim to have friends all over the world. ”
—Jacob Sprath
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| Rachel Davies and friends at the Tower of London | |
“Studying and working in London benefited me personally, academically and professionally. Through living in a different culture, I gained new perspectives and new life experiences. I met a lot of interesting people and learned a lot about myself. I loved experiencing all the things London has to offer, while at the same time gaining valuable
work experience through interning for Lehman Brothers, one of the top investment brokerage firms. Participating in this program was an invaluable experience.”
—Rachel Davies
Some international experiences move beyond just studying within another culture, but require significant engagement within the community. The Association of Experiential Education defines experiential learning as "a process through which a learner constructs knowledge, skill and value from direct experiences.” When linked to intentional and coherent learning, the value of the experience grows exponentially.
One such example is the UNIBusiness course for students interested in the socio-economic realities of Central America. The course requires students to work with citizens in a developing country. Jessica Young, a past participant in this course, found the experience unforgettable, saying, “Traveling to Nicaragua was an amazing experience. There are some things that are much better learned outside of the classroom. I will never forget the people that I talked to and the things I saw. I not only had fun, but will be able to use the lessons that I learned in Nicaragua throughout my life.”
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| Melinda Hamerlinck and a local resident of Ghana pause for a picture. |
Instructor Chris Schrage developed not only this course, but through her activities with Self Help International provided an international experience over Spring Break in Ghana teaching middle school students how to operate a business to a UNI student. This experience changed UNIBusiness student Melinda Hamerlinck, “Chris Schrage and I went to Ghana over spring break to teach middle school students how to operate a business. The International Club of Business Students helped write the textbook for the class and business. Teaching others how to better themselves was amazing by itself. Then if you add in the fact that it happened in Ghana, it was that much more incredible. The country and the people are so wonderful and heartwarming. It really made me realize the importance of education and opportunity that we, as Americans, have. Most importantly, I have learned that a hot shower is heavenly, a meal with out rice is a king’s banquet and even though I don't have the best of the best, I can still be the wealthiest person in the world.”
Funding is a major issue for most students who want to participate in such international experiences. Fortunately, students can use state and federal financial aid towards most study abroad programs. The Lawrence Jepson International Business and Economics Student Study Abroad Grant frequently provides additional support. However, demand for these experiences exceeds the resources available through these means. Through the Dean’s Fund for Excellence the College has the flexibility to provide additional help to students. Students are committed. Faculty are committed. Committed donors make this complete.
You can learn more about how donations to the Dean’s Fund for Excellence enhance the education of UNIBusiness students.
Dean’s Fund for Excellence: Student Competitions
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