The Education Abroad Office encourages University of Idaho students to consider expanding their worldview at the Education Abroad Fair Wednesday.
The fair is a biannual event that allows students to speak directly with representatives from the university’s foreign affiliates. It is the largest event the Education Abroad Office puts together to advertise the programs UI offers.
“We have opportunities for students on almost every continent, for all majors and the fair allows those interested, or at least considering, to get the best glimpse of the versatility that the university has to offer in terms of international programs,” said Kate Wray Chettri, assistant director of the Education Abroad Office.
Chettri said UI is connected with more than 400 universities in 70 countries and has affiliations with five study abroad program providers — all of which were invited to the fair.
The fair featured four visiting programs, six faculty-led programs and the National Student Exchange. The Education Abroad Office also included Career Services, the Martin Institute and the Peace Corps to speak with students during the fair.
Alyssa Petersen, a program specialist with the Martin Institute, said students should consider the growth opportunities that come with studying abroad.
“Having the chance to go and experience a new culture is so important in realizing that we live in such a big world that is actually, beautifully intertwined and the best way to grasp that is by living in a new place and jumping outside of one’s comfort zone,” Petersen said.
Like Petersen, Kendall Barnett, a representative from the University Studies Abroad Consortium, said students ought to experience a different culture at least once in their life.
“Studying abroad really does help students open their eyes to the outside world like nothing else by broadening their horizons as they navigate a foreign realm,” Barnett said.
Students attended the fair for a variety of reasons — the most common being a desire to travel, but many said they lacked the knowledge on the logistics of it.
Junior Nick Sentieri said he had almost written off the prospect of studying abroad because of his major. But after attending a previous fair, he learned of a program that would make it possible to extend his education overseas.
“I feel like I’m a pretty average engineer, but having that extra study abroad experience, showing my adaptability, has put me above my peers and sets me apart when it comes to marketability,” Sentieri said.
Sentieri said he truly believes that studying abroad was the best decision he could have made and advises everyone to give it a go.
Chettri said that studying overseas allows students to add something unique and professional on their resume, and that it usually has a positive impact on students in the years following their experiences
“Studying abroad gives students that chance to realize what they are passionate about and exposes them to things they never would have experienced otherwise,” Chettri said.
Olivia Heersink can be reached at [email protected]