Study Abroad -- my rant.

As more and more students decide to study abroad, issues regarding the quality of their international education experience are becoming a hot topic among professors and future employers. While boozing your way across Europe is an exciting way to drain your savings account, employers are not impressed. In the past, most prospective employers viewed study abroad experiences as a sign that students are able and willing to remove themselves from their comfort zone and journey to unknown lands. Today, however, study abroad has become nearly synonymous with receiving a Bachelor's degree (thus, no longer making each student stand out)and the quality of education during these trips has all but completely diminished. Even so, studying abroad can expand the average student's knowledge of the world, help them get a better understanding of what the rest of the world thinks about America, and depending on where they study, chances are that they will expand their knowledge of a foreign language.

The issue is clear. University based study abroad programs need to maximize each student's financial resources, protect the academic reputation of study abroad program, and expand the quality of education abroad. Many professionals are trying to find solutions, and I have faith that they will come up with some elaborate plan that increases profits for universities and third-party study abroad programs, while failing to cover the other issues. But as this issue continues to expand, congress is increasingly losing interest in helping fund study abroad experiences. A solution needs to happen fast.

Proposed Solution:

The largest portion of available scholarship funds should go to students who wish to study abroad for at least a semester, as opposed to students who are opting for a summer, winter break, or spring break trip (yes, some universities offer scholarships for two week programs--that's a whole different conversation). Universities need to provide incentives for studying in non-traditional (non-European) locations, such as Egypt, China, or Israel. Additionally, incentives must be offered to students who have taken at least a year of a foreign language and will be studying abroad in order to expand on that knowledge.

As for quality of education, universities should create an "international exchange network" across the globe that would ensure that students will be studying a topic while also studying a foreign language. For example, students with advanced French skills should be enrolled in a history class in France (in addition to their advanced conversation class). The core issue is that so many universities are partnering with third-party-exchange programs like ISEP or CEA, which basically herd students into foreign countries with little or no oversight. While these programs lower costs for the university, they actually end up being more expensive for each student, because students pay housing and dining fees on their American campus and receive much less expensive housing abroad (not an even exchange).

While incentives are beneficial and can guide students in the right direction, each student must make the final decision on their own. If a student wants to study abroad in order to strengthen their resume, they should consider going somewhere other than Western Europe. If they merely want to explore a new country, they should go wherever their heart desires; after all, most people will never have another opportunity to spend 6-12 months in another country.