Education Abroad: You Can’t Afford Not to Go, Part 2

UK can help students identify numerous scholarship opportunities for studying abroad. UK students are eligible to apply for prestigious awards such as the Heidelberg Scholarship to study in Germany and the Caen Scholarship to study in France. Others may apply for college-specific grants, like those provided by the College of Arts & Sciences and the College of Health Sciences. Education Abroad at UK also links students to a wide range of external scholarships, and UK students are frequent recipients of such awards.

The University has even developed an innovative fee structure that offers students a tuition break, which further offsets the cost of studying abroad. While an education abroad program in the summer may cost more than staying in Lexington, students often earn 6-9 credits during the summer, which count toward graduation. When measured against the tuition and expenses of an extra semester of classes, the education abroad program can suddenly become more cost-effective.

Research suggests that students who study abroad are more likely to graduate, and they are more likely to graduate on time. Employers report giving greater consideration to applicants who have studied abroad. All indicators point to education abroad as a pathway to students’ academic and social success.

Education Abroad at UK offers monthly information sessions on this topic called “You Can’t Afford Not to Go.”  Visit the website for details.

Education Abroad: You Can’t Afford Not to Go

Skills and knowledge gained from international education experiences are essential for success in today’s global workplace. Thus, high-quality programs exist for students in all disciplines. Study abroad programs are more accessible and more affordable for today’s students.

The University of Kentucky has taken major steps toward making education abroad a real and viable opportunity for all students. For example, credits earned abroad count toward graduation, and in many cases, students can take some of their required courses abroad. The University allows students to use their financial aid and scholarships for study abroad. Moreover, Education Abroad at UK offers individual scholarships of $750 to $1,500 based on financial need and academic merit. (More than $150,000 in scholarship money is available for summer and fall programs to students who apply before March 2011.)

Form more information on scholarships, click here.

Check out the blog next week for more tips on the affordability of studying abroad!

UK Forms Link with Ethiopian University

The University of Kentucky and Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar University formed a partnership this summer, which establishes international faculty, student, study abroad and research collaboration for years to come. Read more. 

Next Stop: China

UK’s College of Arts & Sciences will mark 2011-2012 as “The Year of China: Awakening the Past, Discovering the Future.” Kick-off events September 19-21 will include an opening luncheon, a drumming class and a cooking class. Click here for Dean Kornbluh’s podcast on this exciting initiative.

Different Lands, Common Ground

In conjunction with the UK College of Arts & Sciences’  initiative Kentucky & South Africa: Different Lands, Common Ground students studies abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. While there, they interned at various non-governmental organizations and brought their skills and assets to the South African organizations. They also took a course on South African politics and history in order to better understand the challenges the NGOs face. Follow their memorable adventures on their blogs.

Education Abroad Photo Contest

Everyone brings back great pictures from their time abroad – share yours! To find out more, download the 2011 Photo Contest Flyer. To enter, download and complete the Education Abroad at UK Photo Contest Entry Form. All photo contest entries must be emailed to educationabroad@uky.edu no later than 5 pm on Wednesday, September 7.

Meeting and Exceeding Expectations

What can you do as a college student to set yourself apart as a job applicant?  With the right blend of  internships and international experience today, you can chart your own path for success tomorrow.  

Check out this article from the Public Relations Society of America for tips on what it takes and how you really can fit it all in. 

 New Expectations of College Students, and the Secret to Meeting Them

New Experiences in Poland and Germany

Read the two-part entry about the end of Kyle’s  experience abroad — Spring Break in Warsaw and Berlin.

Kyle Snapp is a student in the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics. He recently completed an exchange program in Riga, Latvia through Education Abroad at UK and will be on campus as a UK101 Peer Instructor this Fall.

Gwen’s Month in Pictures

From the oldest known map of the Middle East to a rather unusual beauty treatment, University of Kentucky rising junior Gwen Schaefer has been documenting her study abroad experience in Amman, Jordan.  More . . . 

Test Scores Soar for Lexington Hispanic Elementary Students in Second Language Program

Students at a Lexington elementary school, who once lagged in their test scores, are now near the front of the pack.

Cardinal Valley Elementary in northwest Lexington, which has the most Hispanic students of any school in the district, crumbled many of its language barriers by reinforcing lessons with methods more commonly found in high-level foreign language courses.

 The school incorporated English as a Second Language practices — styles similar to those usually found in high school French or German classrooms that reinforce vocabulary and language comprehension through special activities — into subjects like social studies, math and science.

Read more at www.kyforward.com, the Kentucky homepage of WKYT.