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Fresh@News: More and more students seem to study abroad at some point. What
are some of the benefits of studying abroad? Is this something parents and
students should start discussing? Mr. Kenney: It’s never too soon for students and students to start talking
about international study. Through the Office of International Studies (OIS),
We have over 800 students studying abroad this academic year. The immediate
benefits of international education can be academic, such as studying a new
field or enhancing your language learning in a new way. Those benefits also can
be professional, especially given the number of students we’ve seen
participating in international internships. In the long term, though, the most
important benefits are personal. Study abroad makes students more confident,
more empathetic to other cultures, and more aware of world events. They become
more conscious of career options and career goals, more willing to take
challenges and, for these reasons, more attractive to employers. In short, study
abroad makes students (what the Harvard Business Review calls)
‘culturally intelligent.’ Fresh@News: Which of these programs should current freshmen be thinking Mr. Kenney: There are a few different possibilities. Many freshmen go on one
of our summer programs, so let’s start there. Villanova has sixteen
summer programs. These programs include intensive language, literature, and
culture programs (Spanish, French, Italian, German) and also area studies
programs (Latin America, Ireland, Russia.) We also offer international business
programs which are based in Chile, China, England, Italy, Germany, Poland, or
Spain. Other programs focus on a specific discipline (rhetoric and performance
in Greece, art history in Fresh@News: What about the programs for fall and spring? When should first
year students start thinking about them? Mr. Kenney: We’ve all heard about the idea of a “junior year
abroad” and it is still true that many students go overseas in their
junior year. However, more and more students are finding this difficult,
usually because of degree requirements. Both the School of Business and the
College of Nursing have special programs allowing sophomores to study overseas,
and first semester seniors can now study abroad as well. Overseas study is
sometimes more complicated for Engineering students, given the strictness of
their curriculum, but with enough advanced planning and preparation it is
possible for them to study overseas for a semester as well. Business and Engineering
students who are considering going overseas for a semester in their sophomore
year should come into our office right away. Nursing students should consult
with the Office of the Dean of Nursing. Though students who are thinking about
going overseas during their junior year can wait until sophomore year to start
the process, the sooner we meet with them the sooner we can begin academic
advising. Fresh@News: What kind of programs does Villanova offer during the academic
year? Mr. Kenney: Villanova University basically has three types of programs.
“Traditional” programs allow students to enroll in overseas
universities to take classes with students from that country. Villanova is
affiliated with many programs of this type, and this year alone VU students are
at Finally, Villanova University has its own study abroad programs. There are
the Villanova University Study Center at the National University of Ireland,
Galway and the Università degli Studi di Urbino, Italy. Villanova students get
to live and study with local students while participating in a program designed
just for them. Villanova’s Resident Directors organize study tours,
oversee orientation and registration, and direct the students in special
research projects. Given the long history of connections between Villanova and
both Galway and Urbino, these programs have been especially popular. Two other
Villanova-specific programs are in London and Melbourne. Both give students
the chance to take a fifth course that further immerses them in the local
culture. In London, that class is a semester-long course on service-learning
in the British context, taught by a faculty member from the London School of
Economics. In Melbourne, that class is a pre-semester course on issues of
Australian multiculturalism that incorporates ethnographic research. These
programs reflect a commitment to the university’s belief in the value of
studying abroad that also allow us to maintain greater levels of quality
control. Fresh@News: What is the actual application process? Mr. Kenney: There is a three step process for students. First, students
complete an online initial application form and register for an information
session. Both of these steps can be completed at the OIS homepage, http://www.villanova.edu/vpaa/intlstudies.
At the information session, OIS staff members review the necessary academic components,
discuss relevant policies, and show students how to research programs. After
researching the options, students can schedule an individual appointment with
the Office of International Studies. These individual meetings Fresh@News: How much does it cost to study abroad? Mr. Kenney: Students studying overseas for a semester pay Villanova
University tuition, regardless of program or location. All other non-tuition
costs (housing, orientation, etc.) A variety of scholarships are available for students studying overseas. Some
of these scholarships are offered by Villanova University for Honors students
or students studying in ‘nontraditional’ Finally, the summer programs vary in cost. The most up-to-date information
on program costs can be found at the program’s webpage. Fresh@News: What kind of support does the University provide to students who
are abroad? Mr. Kenney: Villanova University is very selective about the programs or
universities with which it affiliates. These programs are the best support for
students when they are ‘on the ground.’ Our role once students are
overseas is one of international troubleshooting: advice on health and safety,
course approvals and scheduling, culture shock, etc. In the event of
emergencies, students not only have 24-hour/day resources available to them
on-site, but also have the ability to contact staff here regardless of the
time. Fresh@News: Given the current situation in the US, are there any concerns
about the safety of our students when they go abroad? Mr. Kenney: Both the Office of International Studies and the field of
international education as a whole have been very conscious of safety issues
given recent events. We have no reason to believe that students are in greater
danger because they are overseas than if they stayed here in the U.S. The
University is very select about which programs it approves, and these few
programs must Most importantly, though, students are fully briefed on health and safety
issues both in individual meetings and at the mandatory pre-departure
orientation. The Office of International Studies stays in regular contact with
the State Department, the Overseas Security Advisory Council, the sending
institutions, and professionals in the host countries. Both as a university and
a representative of Fresh@News: How are the students when they return? Mr. Kenney: Self-confident, independent, energized. Most are anxious to go
back, and ready to tell friends and family how much they have changed for the
better. Some have difficulties readjusting to the United States, but we have
the opportunity to talk to them about these issues at our Fresh@News: Do you have any advice for parents? Mr. Kenney: Parents are the most powerful advocates for international
education. The first piece of advice I would have for parents is to encourage
your student to study abroad. We’ve already mentioned some of the
positive aspects of studying overseas. The benefits to the
student—professionally, academically, personally—are staggering. Second, encourage your student to be in contact with the Office of
International Studies and Overseas Programs. ‘Word of mouth’ and
‘a friend told me…’ are often detrimental when beginning the
process of finding an overseas program. This Office should be the starting
point, Encourage students to think of their study abroad opportunities within the
parameters of their needs. Some of the questions they should ask are:
“What program will help me to develop a skill relevant to my
major/minor/career plans/interests? In which program will I learn the most and
become more fully immersed in another culture? Which programs allow me learning
opportunities both in and out of the classroom?” Remember, the study
abroad experience is an extension of, not a break from, your student’s
Villanova education. Along these same lines, don’t underestimate the learning potential for
just the application process itself. Students need to “own” this
process, as it is perhaps one of the most life-changing experiences of their
academic careers. As much as we as parents want to help our children—in
their decision-making processes, in their establishment of goals and
aspirations, even in their workloads—study abroad must be an opportunity
for students to develop their independence. Empower your student to see this
process all the way through and use them as your primary resource for all the
questions that YOU have. It will better prepare them for the elation and
anxiety that comes with living in another culture! An excellent resource for these subjects and others is Study Abroad: A
Parent’s Guide, written by ------------------------------------- Sue Ciccone Director of New
Student Orientation, Assistant for
Special Projects Villanova
University 207 Dougherty Hall 610.519.7210 |