Study abroad becoming increasingly valuable in job search
Meredith Hassett
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Features
Studying abroad is no longer just about perfecting the ability to roll your R's in Spain or eat without cutlery in Ethiopia.
While spending a semester or year abroad was once seen merely as an opportunity for personal enrichment, today, studying abroad can play an increasingly important role in life after college, particularly in the job market.
According to an article published in the New York Times this month, "globally fluent graduates are essential to American competitiveness." With transportation technology and the Internet bringing members of communities across the world together, it is becoming more and more important for graduates to immerse themselves in cultures from countries beyond the United States and Europe.
Tufts Director of Programs Abroad Sheila Bayne agreed. She said she has seen an increased awareness of life after graduation in reasons for going abroad. While the semester or year away from Tufts does still give students opportunities for independence and a cultural experience, motivations of being a competitive applicant in the job market is a newer reason that students have cited for going abroad.
"It is becoming more and more evident that the ability to cross cultures is essential to be competitive in the job market," Bayne said. "With telecommunication and the ease of travel making the world even smaller, no matter what job students go on to, communication with people in other countries will likely play a role in students' careers."
Reflecting the increasing importance of study abroad and its ever-expanding nature is the growing number of American students opting to spend time in foreign countries. Within the 6,000 programs sending students to over 100 countries, students are studying abroad at twice the rate they were eight years ago.
Matching and surpassing this trend, 45 percent of Tufts students are choosing to study abroad, as compared to 35 percent two years ago and 6 percent nationally, Bayne said. She attributed this increased interest among Tufts students versus students of other schools as part of the university's philosophy of internationalism and global thinking - a philosophy she said other schools have tried to mimic.
While spending a semester or year abroad was once seen merely as an opportunity for personal enrichment, today, studying abroad can play an increasingly important role in life after college, particularly in the job market.
According to an article published in the New York Times this month, "globally fluent graduates are essential to American competitiveness." With transportation technology and the Internet bringing members of communities across the world together, it is becoming more and more important for graduates to immerse themselves in cultures from countries beyond the United States and Europe.
Tufts Director of Programs Abroad Sheila Bayne agreed. She said she has seen an increased awareness of life after graduation in reasons for going abroad. While the semester or year away from Tufts does still give students opportunities for independence and a cultural experience, motivations of being a competitive applicant in the job market is a newer reason that students have cited for going abroad.
"It is becoming more and more evident that the ability to cross cultures is essential to be competitive in the job market," Bayne said. "With telecommunication and the ease of travel making the world even smaller, no matter what job students go on to, communication with people in other countries will likely play a role in students' careers."
Reflecting the increasing importance of study abroad and its ever-expanding nature is the growing number of American students opting to spend time in foreign countries. Within the 6,000 programs sending students to over 100 countries, students are studying abroad at twice the rate they were eight years ago.
Matching and surpassing this trend, 45 percent of Tufts students are choosing to study abroad, as compared to 35 percent two years ago and 6 percent nationally, Bayne said. She attributed this increased interest among Tufts students versus students of other schools as part of the university's philosophy of internationalism and global thinking - a philosophy she said other schools have tried to mimic.
Be the first to comment on this story