Study Abroad Fair Connects FAMU Students to Opportunities Around the World
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Students gathered at Al Lawson on Wednesday, Feb. 25 for the annual Study Abroad Fair, an event designed to connect students with academic opportunities in various parts of the world.
The fair, hosted by the Office of International Education and Development, intended to spark students' interest in international education, provide networking opportunities, gain information, and gain exposure to different cultures. Representatives from 12 different programs attended the fair to provide students with information about scholarships, destinations, and the application process.
“There’s a lot of ways that students benefit. It benefits their career, and studies show that students who study abroad make more money, and have higher incomes, management positions, and graduation rates. They are able to work in a multilingual and multicultural environment. Employers are looking for people who are diverse, and can work in a multicultural setting,” said Emily Gung, coordinator of the fair.
Gung emphasized the importance of students taking full advantage of the resources
they have access to while in their undergraduate years. She explained how students
should “just jump right in” because they’re at the peak of their youth, and the best
time to study abroad.
Students showed their interest in having an experential learning experience abroad.
(Photo special to FAMU)
Faculty members also stressed the importance and academic value of studying abroad. Kenyatta Rosier, Ph.D., a teacher in the School of Business and Industry shared her passion for teaching global business courses and highlighted the impact of international partnerships.
“In global business, we are taking what we learned from the management and marketing side, and we are merging them to see what that means internationally, what types of relationships, what types of importing and exporting can companies decide to do. It's all about what form of entry you would like to have globally” Rosier said. “Learning is borderless.”
For students that have already experienced studying abroad, the experience can be
very eye-opening. Manyara Nowell, a fourth-year sociology scholar from Bronx, New York, studied in Costa Rica.
FAMU students were exposed to the variety of educational experiences that a trip overseas
offers. (Photo special to FAMU)
“I was really interested in getting a hands-on perspective on the environmental field, and that's what I got when I went abroad. I studied biodiversity and agriculture as well as biodiversity and sustainable food systems, specifically in coffee and chocolate. I learned about how exploitative that business is and how misleading a lot of the labels can be on the packaging,” she explained.
Study abroad programs can range from shorter summer trips, to semester-long experiences in countries such as South Africa, South Korea, Germany, and more. Organizers encourage students to plan ahead and take full advantage of the study abroad scholarship opportunities.
Students interested in the Study Abroad Program can visit https://www.famu.edu/students/international-education-and-development/education-abroad/index.php for more information and upcoming deadlines.
Media Contact
Rachel James-Terry
Senior Director of Strategic Communications
rachel.jamesterry@famu.edu
