Study Abroad: A Franklin experience

Don’t miss next week’s Study Abroad Fair

By JESSICA LUTON

 jluton@uga.edu

 A well-rounded education can only be enhanced by an international experience. Franklin College of Arts and Sciences students are taking advantage of the many UGA programs all over the world. Our own Dean Alan Dorsey’s endorsement of the international educational experience speaks to the wonderful opportunities open to students and the importance of a global view on thier future.  

Franklin College students make up the largest percentage of Study Abroad participants at UGA, with over 1000 Franklin students taking to the global educational experience during the 2011-2012 school year. That’s 45 percent of the UGA Study Abroad population.

The University of Georgia has plenty to tout in their Study Abroad offerings. There are over 100 faculty-led group programs being operated in approximately 50 countries each year. Students have taken notice of all that UGA offers in this area:

• Currently, just over 2,000 students, or nearly 6% of the entire campus enrollment (graduate and undergraduate) study abroad in a given year. About three-quarters of those chose either a UGA program or a UGA exchange partner.
• Western Europe and Latin American remain the most popular destinations for UGA students. The fastest-growing areas in terms of participation, however, have in recent years been Asia and the Middle East, with Africa recently showing significant growth as well.
• UGA offers breadth in other ways than just geography. We have study abroad programs for dozens of disciplinary areas. We have three residential centers ( Oxford , UK; Cortona , Italy; and San Luis, Costa Rica ) each with unique facilities and foci, and we offer some programs geared specifically to freshmen and sophomores as well as those well into their major curricula.
• We have program lengths ranging from 10 days to a full semester, as well as full-year exchange partnerships; program offerings range across a variety of pedagogies including service-learning, lecture, tutorial, field work, internship, and laboratory experience.

            While a study abroad educational experience is warranted and certainly sought out by students, the process of picking a program, funding that experience and selecting a program that meets your other degree requirements can be quite the daunting experience.  

Never fear, though. Two events—one this week and another next week—will help you get your boots on and ready to trek the world.

            Today, head on over to the Zell B. Miller Learning Center for “Study Abroad 101: Things to Know Before the Fair” event in room 214 from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. to get the 411 on preparing for the annual Study, Work and Live Abroad Fair.

            Once you’ve done your prep work, head on over to next week’s event and dive into the world of options that an international educational experience can offer. The 29^th annual “Study, Work and Travel Abroad Fair” will be held at the Tate Student Center Grand Hall on October 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

UGA's 29th annual Study, Work And Travel Abroad Fair will play host to over 90 programs that include UGA faculty-led programs, external program providers and organizations involved in international education. These programs will provide information on upcoming study abroad programs which include program dates, academic information, program cost and other pertinent information. This fair is a great opportunity for program providers to market their programs to students and for students to learn more about study abroad opportunities. 

The world is your oyster. Begin planning for a once in a lifetime educational experience now. You won’t regret it.

Want more information on study abroad programs? Visit the University of Georgia Office of International Education website: http://international.uga.edu/education_abroad/