Southern Utah University’s Office of Learning Abroad is celebrating National Study Abroad Day on Monday, Feb. 24, in the Sharwan Smith Student Center’s Cedar Breaks Room from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. All are invited to come and learn about the traveling opportunities SUU offers.
Throughout the day, information tables will be available and global ambassadors will be present to assist attendees. The event will feature snacks and interactive activities such as bingo and study-abroad-based trivia. The winner of these games will receive a scholarship for one of the programs of their choice.
“Studying abroad is really beneficial both personally and academically. It makes students a little bit more independent. Whether they’re going with faculty members or by themselves, it puts them in a new environment,” said Learning Abroad Coordinator Tayah Nelson. “They get to see what they’re studying looks like in different countries and from different perspectives, so it’s a very experiential type of learning.”
OLA offers both international and domestic programs. These programs are divided into five categories: Semester Exchange Abroad, Short-Term Study Abroad, Volunteer and Intern Abroad, National Student Exchange and Study Away. With more than 30 destination countries, including Taiwan, Austria, the United Kingdom and many more, students, faculty and staff can select an experience that aligns with their interests and academic goals.
“We are hoping to have a lot of our exchange students there so that (students) bump into somebody from a country that they’re planning on going to and they can start up a conversation,” said Nelson. “It’s a good way to meet other people and have kind of a study abroad community rather than feel like you’re going through the process on your own.”
Located in the Bristlecone Building, room 304, OLA welcomes all interested in exploring study abroad opportunities and provides support throughout the application process.
“It’s worth it. Studying abroad can be really overwhelming, it can be scary sometimes because it’s a big change, but it’s absolutely life-changing,” added Nelson. “Once you make it past the steps of being scared, it turns into just excitement. If students are ready for the challenge, it’s ready for them.”
For more information on studying abroad, visit the Office of Learning Abroad website and make sure to attend Monday’s event.
Author: Fanny Felixine
Editor: Heather Turner
Photos by Gannon Lovisa
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