The Office of International Education hosted a study abroad fair where students could learn about vibrant educational opportunities that ignite curiosity and global connections.
The Study Abroad Fair offered a chance for students to learn about the different ways they can travel for education. Members of the OIE, university faculty and study abroad ambassadors were all there to share their unique experiences with students to pique their interest in studying abroad.
This event showcased many different resources for students to learn about study abroad programs offered, internship opportunities and even passport photography to help students facilitate their passport.
Study Abroad Coordinator Megan Hauser-Tran attended the event to help guide students by giving them general information and finding ways to connect them to the program.
“The study abroad fair gives students a chance to browse and speak to representatives from different programs to help them get started with the application process,” Hauser-Tran said. “We have students here who are actually study abroad alumni so they’ve been on board for a while and can share their experiences. It’s a great opportunity to connect with others and get that peer perspective.”
Each of the programs presented information about traveling abroad and explained the difference between the variety of choices. There are short-term faculty programs that usually go on in the summer to partner programs that the university teams up with to offer semester-wide exchanges. All students can view the different programs offered and decide based on their interests or how long they are looking to travel.
Hauser-Tran studied abroad during her academic career and shared the impact it had on her life, especially when it came time for graduation and applying for graduate schools. She shared how it is an opportunity all students can benefit from, regardless of whether they plan on working globally.
“I think that experience of studying abroad has helped me every step of the way,” Hauser-Tran said. “I think even students who are planning to work locally can still benefit from that global perspective. When you put yourself out there in the world, you start to realize more about yourself that you might not have had the chance to when you were kind of in that comfort zone of your regular environment. So I think it definitely opens you up to that perspective.”
Executive Director of the OIE Tara Braun emphasized the importance of cultural knowledge for future professions as different fields bring in people with different language backgrounds and cultural differences. She also expressed the importance of students exploring options they are interested in, regardless if it doesn’t seem feasible.
“One thing students wonder is how am I going to pay for this and fit it in with my major but I want students to remember that regardless of your academic major you can fit in study abroad,” Braun said. “Don’t think that you can’t do it. Come and find something that attracts your attention and we can sit down to create a budget. We have had this happen with many students in the past and we usually try and help them make it happen.”
Braun mentioned the implementation of an ambassador program for students who have already studied abroad and are current students. She also mentioned how recently alumni who have studied abroad have reached out to share how their experiences have impacted their lives.
“We try to prepare the students well for their experiences and one way to do that is by communicating with our ambassadors and even alumni who have faced the reality of studying abroad,” Braun said. “We do keep in touch with alumni that have studied abroad, and we were finding out now how that experience impacted their whole thinking process.”
Psychology senior Madailein Miller is one of the ambassadors for the study abroad program. Last summer, she traveled to Costa Rica as part of the short-term faculty program and expressed the importance of connecting learning around the world. To prepare for her travels, Miller had to attend many meetings that went over cultural adjustments to prepare her for living in a different culture and even health and safety concerns.
“Studying abroad is an opportunity that any student at Ferris can get involved with,” Miller said. “Learning is global. Everyone, everywhere learns so why not take the opportunity to increase what you know about a different country and your connections around the world?”
The Office of International Education has an international coffee hour and global discussion events, which are planned to take place in November. The International Festival of Nations is planned to happen at the end of February. For additional updates, refer to the Office of International Education’s website and be sure to check the campus events calendar.