The Programs Abroad Office will hold its “biggest event†this Wednesday, Sept. 20, when study abroad experts, faculty, American students who have returned from studying abroad and international students set up the fall Study Abroad Fair in the UC Ballroom.
“[At the fair] students will have the opportunity to meet with program providers, UT faculty and — best of all — with students who have participated in many of our summer, semester and year programs,†said Elizabeth Gregor, a programs abroad coordinator who primarily advises students who want to go to the United Kingdom and Scandinavia, as well as French and German-speaking countries.
Todd Steed, a programs abroad coordinator whose main areas of interest are Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Spain and Cuba, said the purpose of the fair is to “give students the most amount of information as possible in one location in one day.â€
“Students can come in and do one-stop shopping and also meet potential players in the study abroad experience,†he said.
The abroad office organizes a Study Abroad Fair two times a year in the Fall and Spring Semesters. This fall’s fair, which begins at 10 a.m. and continues through 3 p.m., will debut a number of new summer programs and will provide information on financial aid and scholarships.
In addition to enlightening students about opportunities to internationalize their education, the Study Abroad Fair offers a chance to learn about ways to become immersed in a foreign culture without necessarily going to school.
“There will not only be information on studying, but also on interning, working and volunteering abroad,†Gregor said.
According to the office’s Web site, thousands of Americans volunteer or work abroad every year. By working or interning in another country, many people are able to finance extensive travels while gaining work experience and learning about a different way of life. Volunteers abroad provide a service to their host country, and they may use the experience to build their self-confidence and to strengthen their personal skills, along with their resume.
The office offers programs to meet the needs of the university’s diverse population, enabling prospective studiers abroad to customize a program most suitable for them. Programs vary by location, length of stay, language of instruction, cost and other factors that weigh into a student’s decision. Just like one would not buy a car before testing it out, Steed said students should take advantage of the resources available to help them make an informed choice on what many study-abroad participants call a “life-changing experience.â€
“There is no better person to tell you what it’s like (than a student who has returned from studying abroad),†Steed said, adding that the Study Abroad Fair provides the setting, and all students need to bring is questions./dailybeacon.utk.edu
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