STEPSTO STUDY ABROAD
1. Visit the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) Browse through the resource library, speak with the student peer advisors, request brochures, and view a video. We welcome interested prospective students, undergraduates and graduate students.
4. Inform Yourself
4. Inform yourself Define your goals for studying abroad and identify suitable programs.Make an individual appointment with a Study Abroad Coordinator to discuss the program(s) you are interested in.
2. Narrow Your Options
2. Narrow Your Options Define your goals for studying abroad and identify suitable programs.Make an individual appointment with a Study Abroad Coordinator to discuss the program(s) you are interested in.
5. Apply!
3. Find Out About Costs Meet with a Study Abroad Financial Coordinator regarding program costs and using your financial aid.
Begin applying for your program of choice the semester before you plan to go. The deadline for Fall, Academic Year, and Summer programs is March 1, and the deadline for Spring programs is October 1.
6. See Your Academic Advisor
Discuss how your study abroad courses will fit in with your degree requirements and have your Advisor sign your Academic Plan for Study Abroad.
7. Submit Your Application Submit your application to the Office of Study Abroad on or before the deadline.
8. You've Been Accepted! Send acceptance forms to the OSA apply for your passport and make travel plans.
9. Orient Yourself
Attend the OSA pre-departure orientation for a full day of program information and question-and-answer sessions with past participants. Read carefully all the information in your orientation packet and feel free to ask questions.
10. Pack Your Bags
...Kiss everyone good-bye, and GO!
International Experience Valuable in Job Market
There are a growing number of surveys, articles and reports demonstrating the importance for students to have an international component to their education. These reports indicate that many businesses are expanding internationally, and that the percent of jobs that require international and language training will continue to grow over the coming years.
A Cambrian College guide to gaining international experience estimates that one out of every three jobs will require international experience within the next decade. It points to country-to-country trade agreements, better access to information (via the Internet, for example) and increased mobility between countries as a few of the reasons for the increase. Smart Pros, a website dedicated to professional education for accounting and engineering professionals, reported a survey that revealed that "56 percent of [chief financial officers] polled said international experience will be at least somewhat necessary for accounting and finance professional five years from now." The American Council on Education's International Initiatives Program has compiled results from a series of
surveys that indicate a public "increasingly informed...and interested in what happens beyond U.S. borders." And The Internationalization of U.S. Higher Education Preliminary Status Report 2000 reports that the number of federal agencies that require foreign language competence has risen from 19 agencies in 1985 to 67 in 2000. The report also says that while it is difficult to determine the exact demand for international experience in the private sector, evidence for this can be found in the more than 20,000 language proficiency tests administered for business from 1992 to 1997.
Many of the articles also stress that it is not only the specific international or language training itself that is important. The articles indicate that businesses view a well-rounded knowledge about cultures and customs abroad to be equally or even more valuable than knowledge of specific languages, business practices, marketing skills, and international finance. Furthermore, the articles indicate that international experience demonstrates independence, adaptability, and a willingness to try new things, all valuable skills in the eyes of many employers.
letter from the editor
Dear Jayhawk,
Welcome back from winter break! If you are tired of trudging around campus in the cold weather, why not think about summer instead? This summer KU will offer students the opportunity to study abroad on 30 summer programs in 19 countries. Where will you go?
Summer is a great time to study abroad. For some students it is the best way to fit study abroad into their academic plan, or the only time they can afford to take off from work or other extracurricular activities. For others it's a great opportunity to earn additional credit hours, improve language skills, or pursue a specific academic interest in depth.
Now is the time to apply. Admissions for most summer programs are done on a rolling basis, so it is important to apply early. Even though the focus of this edition of Jayhawks Abroad is our summer programs, now is also the time to apply for fall and academic year abroad programs. Applications for all summer, fall and academic year programs are due March 1.
For more information about any of our programs, feel free to stop by the resource library anytime between 8:00 and 5:00. Monday-Friday. The resource library, located in 109 Lippincott, is staffed with Peer Advisors who can answer your questions and help you discover your options. You can also find information and applications on the web at www.ku.edu/-osa.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Sincerely,
Stacie Vincent
Outreach Coordinator
Office of Study Abroad
2
Jayhawks Abroad