Connecting the N.C. State community, the students and the global community — it’s a concept that this University has begun to embrace as Chancellor James Oblinger has begun to look toward China and India for partnerships and relationships. With this new global thought process, students are increasingly taking the opportunity to travel abroad as a part of their college education experience.
Studying abroad has become an opportunity where students can enrich their education, while at the same time learn about an entirely new culture. Students travel to a foreign land and walk away with a newfound perspective on how the culture of a different country operates or grow personally as they meet new people. They also walk away with a costly bill.
Students who want to study abroad have the option of helping offset the expenses of their trip by applying for scholarships through the University’s Study Abroad department. According to the Study Abroad Web site, for the 2006 to 2007 application cycle, approximately 573 students applied to receive part of the $153,000 in scholarship aid from the University. However, only 40 percent, or 229 students, were awarded scholarships — most award amounts being at least $850 per recipient.
These numbers are sadly too low to help support students looking to broaden their horizons. The average cost of a summer session of studying abroad ranges from $2,500 to $3,500 — not including air fare –meaning many students didn’t receive aid for even a third of the cost.
If the University wants to work within the new global mindset it has adopted, then it must provide better financial assistance for students wishing to travel abroad. Students wanting to travel internationally should not be deterred by their financial situation nor should the University cease to actively seek students for studying abroad.
To fund additional scholarships, the University should look to the business partnerships it has established to sponsor students wishing to travel abroad, not through tuition and fee increases. Individual colleges must look to increase their funding capabilities for student scholarships. Those colleges that don’t have Study Abroad scholarships need to contemplate whether they are helping or hurting their students.
Studying in a different country can have a significant impact on a student’s life. The University needs to do all it can to ensure every student can have that experience and provide the global perspective the University is striving to achieve.
