Gaining Global Competency through Study Abroad Alex Williamson – Illinois Study Abroad
In today’s competitive job market, having experience in international settings is one way students are gaining an edge over their peers. The path to gaining global competency often includes studying abroad. Students who study abroad immerse themselves in another culture, hone their foreign language skills, and participate in experiential learning opportunities. They also become problem solvers and critical thinkers; characteristics that employers want to see from new hires. In fact, employers surveyed in the Job Outlook 2018 published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) rated critical thinking and problem solving skills as the most essential career competency among new employees. However, employers rated only 55.8% of their recent graduate hires as “proficient” in this area. Therefore, students who can effectively leverage their study abroad experiences show prospective employers both their global competency and critical thinking skills. The University of Illinois is a leading institution for international opportunities for its students. According to the 2017 Open Doors Report from the Institute of International Education (IIE), the University of Illinois ranked 20th in the nation for students participating in credit-bearing study abroad programs. In the 2015-16 academic year, Illinois sent 2,018 students abroad on 300 programs in over 50 countries. The University of Illinois sends thousands of students abroad each year, however, only approximately ten percent of all U.S. undergraduate students will study abroad before they graduate. Therefore, study abroad students may have a unique professional
Alexandra Turcios, a Political Science and Global Studies major in the College of LAS, was a Charles Wert India – Illinois Scholarship recipient and studied abroad in India.
advantage over their peers who do not study abroad. Students who study abroad have rich, diverse experiences to draw upon and they gain transferable skills that can strengthen their resumes and improve their job search, particularly for positions that require global competency. Even with the countless academic, personal, and professional benefits, many students do not utilize the opportunity to study abroad because of perceived barriers, namely the out of pocket expense. While some programs can be costly, many are comparable to a term at Illinois. Students can work with the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) to see how their aid package applies to a study abroad program. Furthermore, students often apply for external funding opportunities, such as scholarships, to help offset
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any additional costs. Students can apply for nationally competitive scholarships as well as scholarships offered through their program provider. The University of Illinois also offers scholarships through Illinois International, which are open to all Illinois students who meet the eligibility requirements. These scholarships help to support students who might not otherwise be able to afford the cost of their program. “I think my time abroad will be very influential in my future education and career. I’m a Global Studies major with a focus on the Middle East. Having spent time in the region gives me a much better understanding and perspective of its history, people, and events,” Kristina Salazar, undergraduate student who received a scholarship to study abroad, said.