Saturday, January 29, 2011

“Expand your horizons by studying abroad”

“Expand your horizons by studying abroad”

Expand your horizons by studying abroad

Posted: 28 Jan 2011 03:56 AM PST

St. Bonaventure students pursue their education abroad with ample financial resources and foreign programs despite the current economic situation.

The university provides opportunities at more than 60 universities in over 30 different countries. The director of international studies, Alice Sayegh, has been at St. Bonaventure for more than 20 years. She started in the department of foreign studies for immigration. In 1994, that same department combined with the study abroad program to create the department of international studies.

Sayegh said, despite the economic slump, the enrollment in the study abroad program remains stable. St. Bonaventure currently has 12 students spending the semester elsewhere, while SBU has welcomed 41 foreign students to the campus.

"There is a program that fits everyone's budget, and some are even less expensive than a semester at St. Bonaventure," Sayegh said. "We are really conscience about making sure students understand the process before it starts."

To qualify for the study abroad program, a student needs a passport, a visa and a maintained grade point average of at least 2.5. However, once accepted into the study abroad program, the benefits are numerous, Sayegh said. "Students can challenge their studies from a different perspective regardless of major."

She said that students who currently receive financial aid can apply, and the fiscal situation can be aided with the help of the many available scholarships.

With such an array of countries available, it can be difficult to make a decision as to where to go. Sayegh said students' favorite study abroad destinations change in cycles.

"Australia is very popular from a financial perspective, while Ireland is a perennial favorite due to students' heritage," Sayegh said.

However, Bonaventure has maintained a 25-year relationship with Spain, the longest of all study-abroad programs.

Sayegh believes the semester abroad is a maturing process that is definitely worth the steps it takes to get there. She hopes that even more opportunities will open up in different parts of the world.

"I would love for the Middle East to open up, as it would really benefit some of our Arabic language students," Sayegh said.

With the way the department of international studies is run, it seems the idea of reaching out to this region could become a reality.

Sayegh said she believes students should not be afraid to leave the familiarity of St. Bonaventure.

"Students need to take the experience and see it as if they are going off to college for the first time all over again."

spilmadm10@bonaventure.edu

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