Should Studying Abroad Be a Requirement - Essay Example

? Should Studying Abroad be a requirement? Introduction Due to the fact that companies increasingly prefer s who can work with people from different cultures and live in other countries successfully, it is becoming necessary for students to study abroad. This allows them to get equipped with these skills and develop an edge for themselves amid the competition. Primarily, this gives the students an opportunity to be self-sufficient as they learn to adapt to the new environment and the different circumstances that it brings independently. Being able to navigate around foreign countries over time increases the chances for a student to be self-sufficient as they learn to provide for themselves. Interacting with people from different cultures also allows students to challenge their long-held beliefs; more importantly, this demands that students look into their own native culture and appreciate its uniqueness. This is because they will have the opportunity to identify differences and similarities with the cultures in the foreign countries, which in turn teaches them to be accommodating of others. In addition, students are bound to find themselves in situations where their personal identity is questioned or criticized where this gives them a chance to develop confidence and self-esteem as they give out responses. All these experiences go a long way in shaping the character of student looking to excel in their chosen career. Why it should be made a necessity to study abroad International experiences, especially long-term ones that last for a semester or a year help build a student both professionally and personally. A student has a better chance of accessing employment and further education opportunities. It becomes important for institutions to encourage their students to take advantage of opportunities to study abroad, even if for a semester only. Such encouragement helps students get over their personal fears and instead consider the opportunities for personal growth that are available through international experiences. In addition, institutions need to guide students through the application process for such programs and take them through the preparation process of moving there and settling in while finding means of fending for themselves. The core reason for advocating for studying abroad is that is help students gain exposure as this enables them to adjust their way of thinking, attitudes and builds their skills. This exposure is essential in helping students become empowered and feel confident enough to participate in a global job market (Lewin, 2009). The second core reason is based on employers’ perception of students who have studied abroad. A study done by Trooboff, Van de Berg and Rayman revealed that employers value the ability to be flexible and adaptable and that these skills are enhanced by studying abroad. Additionally, the personal quality of being open to and non-judgmental about people from varying cultural backgrounds was seen as being valuable to employers, and enhanced by studying abroad. Being observant and a good listener also ranked high among qualities valued by employers and enhanced by studying abroad though this was superseded by qualities such as being willing to take risks in order to learn new things, being cognizant that one’s worldview is not universal and having knowledge about more than one culture outside the United States. Overall, the skills/ personal qualities ranked the highest were ability to work under pressure and being able to work effectively in teams where both were seen as being enhanced further by studying abroad. Following an international and global competence criteria developed by Hunter and Deardoof, this study ranked the highest three personal qualities as being important when employers are hiring as well as being enhanced by international study. These are being able to communicate, interact and effectively work outside one’s comfort zone, getting along well with persons from varying races and cultures and being flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances. The study found that employers valued time spent abroad according to the duration that the student had spent there where taking an internship abroad is valued more than merely taking a class abroad (Herren, 2008). Of importance as well is that studying abroad allows students to learn and perfect a second language by learning it at its native country. Where one gets to immerse themselves in the language whilst also learning the culture, they get an opportunity to speed up retention along with fluency. Similarly, if the abroad country is an English-speaking one it will allow the student to diversify their use of colloquial and phrases which furthers their competency in the language. For students that have their heritage origins from abroad, they have a chance to explore and learn more about it allowing them to become more familiarized. Notably also, one has the opportunity to participate in activities that may not be available locally such as adventure sports and this experience makes it possible to learn more about oneself (Bohrer, n.d). Why it should not be made a necessity to study abroad The main problem with making it a requirement to study abroad is that it is unfair because it is not affordable for most students. Studying abroad should be seen as a complementary factor however if it is made a necessity it will be seen as the only thing worth doing where students that have studied locally will be left feeling hopeless. This is especially disadvantageous considering the fact that international study programs may not be affordable to most students. It is viewed as a luxury as the resources needed are not accessible to all students even with the increasing number of scholarships and programs as some students are undertaking programs that may not allow them time off to go abroad. Secondly, there arises the issue of ‘watering’ down of school systems where certain institutions have removed all the challenges in a bid to make their programs easy and appealing. These challenges include cultural immersion, learning and personal growth and are essentially what make studying abroad valuable. Such institutions usually have American professors teaching English and this makes it pointless to travel abroad for such learning when it can be found in the country (Taft, 2013). Thirdly, there is the mere fact that previous experiences have indicated that learning outcomes anticipated from studying abroad are not being met. Therefore, instead of advocating for or making it a necessity to study abroad, efforts should be made to ensure that these learning outcomes are being achieved. At the same time, there should be consideration of the fact that such learning outcomes are achievable within the country. This will imply that international education would be made available through multiple means in order to cater for those that cannot afford it while still ensuring that local school systems are up to par with the rest of the world. International education calls for internationalized thinking that encompasses two elements- being able to interact with persons from different cultures and race and developing of skills that are applicable internationally. This acknowledges the fact that institutions have a responsibility towards their students in making sure they can compete globally, by inculcating them with internationalized thinking (Salisbury, 2012). The other problem with making it a necessity to study abroad is that it paints the picture that the local educational system is ineffective. The emphasis should instead be placed on making it a necessity for school systems to encompass international perspectives in order to equip students with diverse skills ranging from communication to problem solving. For instance, teachers should be availed with programs to train internationally so that they can then convert this knowledge into useful learning material for students. The broadened perspective gained by teachers is then imparted on students, allowing them to compete in a global job market. In Saudi Arabia, for instance, it was reported that the number of students enrolled in U.S colleges had increased by 30 percent this year compared to the previous year. This has left a gap in the many universities coming up in the country where it has been insisted that education programs should strive to equip students with diverse knowledge and skills through training teachers to have the capacity to do so (Ghamdi, 2013). Conclusion Studying abroad is an experience that affords a student growth in three key areas- personal, academic and professional. Personal growth occurs as one becomes more aware of themselves concerning personal traits, attitudes, mentality and possibly heritage. In addition, living away from home allows one to learn how to be responsible, independent and self-reliant. Academic growth comes from undergoing learning in a context different from home with lecturers and professors that are broadly experienced and competent. At the same time, one’s interest in academics is bound to get aroused in a different environment. Professional growth takes place as one undertakes internships and goes on to seek further employment opportunities that are both challenging and rewarding where one gets to build their skills and forge beneficial relationships. Coming back home, one has the choice of mentoring others and honing useful skills in them and generally improves the local workforce. In the end, one has the personal choice of maximizing the opportunity to study abroad and thus instances where this has not been achieved are viewed as one’s individual responsibility. Just as well, it has been shown that employers value studying abroad as it is seen to enhance certain crucial personal qualities and skills. The world is ever changing and swiftly evolving where the resultant effect has been globalization and this requires one to continuously reinvent themselves and broaden their perspectives and experiences. Therefore, studying abroad should be made a requirement. References Lewin, R. (2009). The Handbook of Practice and Research in Study Abroad. Routledge Publishers: New York. Herren, J. (2008). Study Abroad Employability Factors: The Perceptions of Career Recruiters. Oklahoma: Oklahoma State University. Bohrer, I. (n.d). 10 Reasons Why You Should Study Abroad- Benefits& Challenges. money crashers. Retrieved from http://www.moneycrashers.com/reasons-why-study-abroad-benefits/ Taft, R. (2013). Is Study Abroad THAT Important? October 31 2013. go overseas. Retrieved from http://www.gooverseas.com/blog/study-abroad-important Salisbury, M. (2012). It’s Time To Rethink Study Abroad. Chronicles of Higher Education. chronicle. November 16 2012. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/blogs/worldwise/its-time-to-rethink-study-abroad/31064 Ghamdi, A. (2013). Studying Abroad Should No Longer be a Necessity. Arab News. November 18 2013. Retrieved from http://www.arabnews.com/news/478991 Read More