October 10, 2011

Since we are in full-swing recruiting mode, I thought I would share my thoughts on where study abroad fits into higher education and the impact it can have on students. It is more than just getting a stamp in a passport or earning college credit, it can truly be a life-changing experience.

I could certainly make the argument that students who study abroad have higher GPAs. Or I could say that students who study abroad have higher graduation rates. Good - that will keep mom and dad happy, not to mention the folks who calculate the new TBR institutional performance funding. I could also tell you that students who study abroad are more likely to be hired into a full time job after graduation. Great - that will please those that collect student loans. But more importantly, I believe that studying abroad can inspire a student to live a better life.

When I travel with students, it is always such a privilege to see the transition they go through. Students evolve from guarded enthusiasm to fully embracing the culture and become eager for more. I think about the student who had never been on a plane, never seen an ocean, never seen a lion, never seen an abandoned child, who had never shaken the hand of an ex-prisoner of Apartheid, and never, ever, thought she would see the world. But she did. First to South Africa, then to India, and next year she will travel to Ireland. Now she has an AS from Vol State and is working towards her BA at Tennessee Tech. And did I mention that she founded a non-profit organization to help rescue street children in India?

We can calculate GPAs and measure graduation rates and even determine job placement, but the one thing we can’t quantify in higher education is preparing our students to live a better life.

Tracey Bradley ,
Executive Director, TNCIS

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu