Students who attended AU's study abroad fair Thursday found information on more than 100 study abroad programs in 34 countries.
AU Abroad program representatives, some of whom are former AU Abroad participants, answered students' questions and shared their own experiences. The fair also included representatives from some of the universities with which AU has study abroad partnerships.
Micaela Arthur, a senior in the School of International Service and a representative of the university's enclave program in Nairobi, Kenya, said the internship portion of her study abroad experience presented her with a number of opportunities.
"My Kenyan experience was wonderful," she said. "For my service internship, I worked at the Ray of Hope Clinic and the 'Informal School,' which are located in a town called Kawangwaie ... the purpose of the school is to educate students that are HIV positive." As part of her duties, she started a patient support group for the students, she said.
AU's programs fall into two categories - partner and enclave. Through AU Abroad partners, students directly enroll into foreign universities and select from a wide range of courses and housing options. AU Abroad enclaves offer a more structured program with college courses, internships and excursions.
The number of programs has more than quadrupled in the last several years, AU Abroad Director Sara Dumont said.
"About five years ago, we offered the 'World Capitals Program,' which presented only about 12 to 13 programs per semester," she said. "As you can imagine, many students sought opportunities outside of the ones offered."
AU Abroad attempts to establish relationships with universities in countries where AU doesn't have an abroad program. Dumont said she plans to go to Brazil to build connections with universities there, and she also wants to develop more programs in Africa and Asia.
"The troubling aspect about establishing relationships with other universities in some of these countries is that the political and social instability can potentially threaten the safety of the students," Dumont said.
Another roadblock to studying abroad is finances. In the minds of most college students, the cost of studying abroad can seem daunting, but the cost is generally the same as the cost of attending AU for a semester, Dumont said.
"We don't want finances to be a barrier," she said.
Nick Tsotakos, a junior in the Kogod School of Business who plans to attend the enclave program in Beijing during the spring semester, said going abroad complements his future aspirations.
"As a student in Kogod, the business aspect of the city of Beijing is very appealing to me, and down the road I see myself pursuing a career in China," he said.
Studying abroad can be one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of a lifetime, Dumont said.
"It is the next big step and one of the very few times you will have the chance to live somewhere overseas for an extended time," she said. "You are taken away from your familiar environment and given a chance to reflect on who you are and what you really want in life."
For further information on AU's study abroad programs and financial aid information, go to www.auabroad.american.edu.
