Benefits of Study Abroad

...for the WSU Community
  • Diversifies WSU students not by ethnicity but by experience, outlook, and understanding.
  • Prepares students for the future in a way that classes cannot.
  • Students acquire professional skills that prepare them for a changing and diverse workforce including…

              -linguistic competencies

              -creative problem solving skills

              -flexibility

              -multiple perspectives

              -self-confidence

  • Students increase their awareness and tolerance of multiple cultures within our WSU community.
  • Students are more civically engaged and aware of international issues.
  • The WSU community gains a higher reputation for students as global citizen.

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...for the Professional Community
  • Students increase cross-cultural competencies.
  • Students who study abroad are able to adapt to the changing workforce and therefore add to the professional community.
  • Recognition of maturity and self-confidence within students increases their level of responsibility as employees and citizens.
  • Students are able to work effectively and confidently with our growing immigrant communities.
  • Students become more effective in the diverse workforce.
  • Study abroad students are ahead of other applicants in their multiple skill sets.

 

WSU Student Testimonials

 

Granada, Spain

Spanish Major

One aspect of my personality or attitude that positively changed through my study abroad experience is my level of independence. When forced to figure out both the simple things in life that are usually just handed to us and the more complex things that language and cultural barriers may present, it creates a personal sense of independence and accomplishment.

London-University of Westminster

Social Work

 

For me studying abroad helped me to grow up. You go somewhere where you do not know a single person and you do not know the culture and you are forced to adapt, and the whole process is just such a learning experience, one that you could not get without having studied abroad. It is just a good way of finding yourself as a person and I think that everyone should get the opportunity to do that.

Australia

Business


It shows students that there is a different way of life that isn't necessarily better or worse, just different. When it came to studies, attending a university in a different country shows students that there are other ways of learning how to function in the working world after their education.

England

Mass Communications Major

 

After I studied in England and traveled around Europe, I think I became more open-minded towards different cultures and the differences from my own. I came to appreciate certain things about other cultures as well as reaffirming the appreciation for my own.

Italy

Elementary Education

 

I feel that everyone should studied abroad to become more informed about the world. I feel that sometimes as Americans we don't really know what is going on in the world and the only way to find out is to go and figure it out for yourself. It is good to get out of your comfort zone and learn about yourself and others. Please just remember when you are a different country be respectful and remember also that you are THEIR guest! Not the other way around!

Granada, Spain

Spanish Major

 

Everyone should study abroad because it gives you time to learn more about yourself as a person when you are outside of your comfort zone. It helps you decide what is really important to you, it helps you realize what you can live with and what you can live without. It allows you to make connections with people and a country that would never have been made unless you went. I'm a graduate of Winona State with my BA in Spanish and I could say that studying abroad was the best thing I every did, and I wish that I would have done it for a year instead of a semester.

Granada, Spain

Nursing

 

It was a great way to experience another culture and perspective in that culture and of the world. There is so much out there to experience, there so many benefits, mostly just taking time to get to know something different like people, places, and culture. There’s so much that people don't even know that they're missing out on by not traveling or studying abroad. Studying abroad has made me become more comfortable with the uncertain and not knowing what may happen next. I also became more confident in my Spanish language skills and comfortable using it.

France

International Studies and French Major

 
It allowed me to be more open and accepting of other cultures, it was a total paradigm shift, I now understand the difficulties of exchange students here at WSU in trying to integrate. In that way I am more attentive to how I interact with them.