By: Max Vanderglas
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – Students at the University of Arkansas have the opportunity to study abroad every fall, spring and summer.
In fact, Director of the Office of Study Abroad & International Exchange, Sarah Malloy, says that in a typical year, over 1,000 students study abroad and travel to a wide range of places.
“We send about 1,100 to 1,200 students abroad, and that’s to about 50 unique countries. So places from Chile, to Ecuador, to Spain, to France, to Thailand, to Australia, to New Zealand. I mean really, there’s a lot of places that we send students.”
The study abroad office is constantly working with students throughout the year and summer as studying abroad in many different countries takes a lot of planning logistically. Some students need educational visas, and passports, as well as scholarships to afford these trips.
Malloy says that all the advisors at the Study Abroad Office are experienced, and work with every single student to personalize their trip for them.
“We ask you questions like, where do you see yourself? What kind of goals do you have for studying abroad? Is it location driven? Is it curriculum driven? Is it major specific? Is it a price point that you are looking for? We really want to find the best fit program for an individual student.”
Senior student and interior design major, Ford Modesset, spent this past summer in Copenhagen, Denmark, for a 7 week intensive studio to study a certain type of furniture that he was interested in.
“I’ve always admired Scandinavian furniture and the functional aesthetic, and I believe this is what led me to choose this program. The professional wood workers or ‘cabinet makers’ as they refer to them, are some of if not the best furniture craftsmen and women in the world. I honestly couldn’t imagine a better place to study furniture design.”
Malloy says many students’ biggest regret from college is that they never got to study abroad, and her biggest message for students is always to consider studying abroad.
“When we look at what the value of a college education is, when we look at what the future job market brings. Having that international, cross-cultural experience becomes that much more important. So I would really encourage a student during their undergraduate degree to at least consider.”
Junior student, Yael Even, did just that and was encouraged to go, but still had doubts while considering.
“At first I was hesitant as I didn’t want to miss my junior year, but I thought why not take the leap and every semester of college in Fayetteville is quite similar. And I am really glad I did.”
Malloy says that there are constantly study abroad events going on throughout the year, and planning is always happening. In fact, there is a “Study Abroad 101 Information Session” on Thursday, February 16th, in the Student Success Center. Students can find all of these events and more information by checking out “hogsabroad” on social media sites. As well as going to the Sharepoint link and seeing customized trips for their major.
You can also use the interactive map below and check out some of the places that students went, and read about their experiences more in depth.