The Collegian

Issue date: 10/3/06 Section: News

Vendors provided information on various study abroad programs. Many options, such as international internships, volunteer opportunities and major specific programs, are offered to Saint Mary's students.

Ferroggiaro Quad was transformed into an international bazaar, this past Wednesday, rivaling the likes of the great marketplaces of any exotic port city around the world. However, instead of hawking rare treasures or delicacies, the vendors at Saint Mary's miniature version of Epcot dazzled the student body with offers of various study abroad programs.

Organized by the Center for International Programs, the Study Abroad Fair provided students an opportunity to see what traveling options were available to them. Organizations and universities from Australia, the United Kingdom, and various parts of Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East were all represented and allowed the students to chat with employees or alumni of their respective program.

While all the organizations offered students a way to broaden their social and cultural horizons, each group had its own, slightly different goal. While some universities merely allow you to live on campus and take classes in a foreign country, others focus more on job opportunities and developing a deeper cultural understanding of a region by living with local families.

"Studying abroad can change students' lives and help when you're applying for jobs in a globalized workplace," said Carly Gordon, a representative of the International Programs Abroad. "Not only do you get to see other cultures, but there's also the possibility of work."

Programs offered in financially stable continents have different agendas than those whose destinations were third world countries. While the more modernizes locales concentrated on academic development and career networking, organizations based in Africa or parts of Latin America seemed to emphasize a more out-of-the-classroom education based volunteer and social justice work. Students who choose these destinations are guided by more of a moral obligation than simply furthering their education, something Katushka Kohut of Gonzaga's abroad universities said, "Some [students] choose to study abroad to add on to their major, others know they're adamant about certain causes."

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools