Le Moyne’s study abroad program matches trends

Aubree Eliza Weaver, News & Features Editor
April 12, 2012
Filed under News & Features

In March, StudyAbroad.com released the results of its annual survey, revealing the motivations and concerns of students regarding schools’ study abroad programs. In terms of what students consider important, Le Moyne’s program matched up with national trends.

According to the survey of 380 students who visit studyabroad.com, when asked “What is your motivation for studying abroad?” 63.1 percent of respondents indicated that cultural experiences were very important, while a close 58.5 percent noted that the opportunity to live abroad was a key component as well.

Furthermore, 51.6 percent of respondents attributed their motivation to being able to travel. Another 51.6 percent claimed academic reasons, and 45.3 percent indicated that the resume experience was “very important.”

More than half of the respondents also mentioned that social reasons were important factors in their decision-making.

As Patti Bevans, associate director of Global Education and Internships, explained, there are many reasons why students should consider studying abroad.

“[You can] enhance your academic program, broaden your understanding of a different country and immerse yourself in a different culture,” she noted. “You can also advance your foreign language abilities, make friends with people from all over the world, become more marketable in the workforce and, most of all, have fun.”

This past year at Le Moyne, nine students studied abroad in the fall semester and 25 students are currently abroad for the spring semester.

“The trend is that spring programs are more popular,” said Bevans. “I can only guess as to why that’s the case, but it seems to me that many students value the support they get from the college during the months immediately preceding their departure.”

Le Moyne has exchange agreements with schools in England, Ireland, Germany, Scotland, the Czech Republic, Poland and Spain. However, if a student wishes to study somewhere else, he or she can apply through study abroad programs at other colleges and universities.

“Studying abroad has not only exposed me to different culture,” said senior Kate Brondum, who is currently studying abroad in Paris, France, “It  allowed me to travel to many cities all over, from eating pizza in Florence with Patri [Lamas], to skiing in the Alps near Grenoble, to walking through the Majorelle Gardens in Marrakech, Morocco. The heart of Europe has opened my eyes and my heart to the rest of the world.”

In this survey, 70 percent of students said that money was the biggest obstacle in deciding to study abroad. Of that percentage, half said that they’d only be able to go abroad if they found a way to pay for it, and one-third expressed a fear that they’d be unable to afford it.

“A lot of different factors go into financing study abroad but, in general terms, most of the financial aid students receive from Le Moyne goes to cover the cost of their program abroad,” Bevans explained. “Le Moyne students are fortunate because many colleges do not allow institutional aid, such as scholarships or grants, to cover the cost of study abroad, but we do. Le Moyne encourages global learning and therefore wants to make it as easy and seamless as possible in order to enable students to study abroad.”

“Overall, being abroad made me realize that I enjoy being social, talking to new people and making new friends and acquaintances,” said senior Courtney Jenne, who studied abroad in Spain during the spring 2011 semester. “In the semesters following I have taken on more social activities and become overall more outgoing.”

For more information on study abroad programs throughout the world, visit www.StudyAbroad.com. If a student has questions regarding Le Moyne’s own study abroad opportunities, they can email the Office of Global Education at globaleducation@lemoyne.edu.

Program guidelines, scholarship information and other important information can also be found on the Le Moyne College website at www.lemoyne.edu/StudyAbroad/tabid/838/Default.aspx.

“Studying abroad is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Bevans added. “Students want to see the world, learn about themselves and travel, just to name a few.”Le Moyne’s study abroad program matches trends