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| While on her study-abroad trip Ellen van Reuler took a short hike to the 250 meter high summit of Arthur's Seat, the long-extinct volcano, located to the east of Edinbugh, Scotland. The Edinburgh Castle is in the background. |
Last week, van Haare traveled to Lisbon, Portugal to take part in the Erasmus Coordinators Conference (ERACON) at which current research showed, `University students, who travel abroad to study or participate in an internship, generally have a better prospect of finding a job after graduation than students who never participate in a study-abroad program or internship.'
For students, opportunities to study abroad are readily available. The UT currently collaborates with 150 participating, partner universities, mainly within Europe, working closely with the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU).
Bilateral agreements are arranged through the International Office with ECIU universities in Denmark, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Outside of Europe, the UT has established agreements with two associate ECIU members, the Swinburne University of Technology (Australia) and the Tecológico de Monterrey (Mexico).
By far, the most popular study-abroad destinations for UT students, according to van Haare, are to Norway, Sweden and Australia.
`If students want to apply to a university outside of the EU, the International Office will send their application by express mail,' she said. Almost any student, who wants to study abroad, can receive a scholarship. `We really want to motivate students to travel and not let money be some sort of obstacle.'
Foremost, students have to take steps to define which study abroad program suits their specific personal needs, and which will enhance their pursuit of an academic degree. In advance of planning a trip, she advises students to begin, for example, by answering practical questions like, `Where do I want to study abroad?' and besides this, `What are the possibilities in my field of study?' or `When will I travel and for how long?'.
Arguably the most advantageous study-abroad program in Europe, filled with enormous perks, is offered in collaboration with Erasmus partner universities. Dutch exchange students never have to pay tuition fees, nor do they need to worry about finding adequate accommodations. Host universities assist students and stimulate integration through the Erasmus Student Network, which provides support in the form of year-long activities, organized to gradually help students adapt to a new culture.
This academic year, `based on the number of applications and the increased interest from students, we anticipate a significant growth in the number of students going abroad,' said van Haare.
She attributes this rapid growth to the promotion efforts with ECIU partners and the upcoming `Let's Go!' Fair. In addition to workshops and an information market, representatives from ECIU universities will be on hand to answer questions. `Students can also have the opportunity to talk with other students who have already traveled abroad,'says van Haare.
Ellen in England
In August of 2007, UT student Ellen van Reuler, currently studying Industrial Engineering and Management, spent a year abroad at the University of Manchester in England. Like most students studying abroad, van Reuler experienced first hand what it felt like to be the minority, `All my fellow students were British and during the introduction program for international students, I seemed to be the only one with relatively short, blonde hair.'
She stayed comfortably in a small studio apartment with other students, though she comments, `A funny detail is that, although only post graduate and mature students lived in my building, we had two tutors who took care of us.'
While studying abroad, she joined the University of Wales Hiking Club and toured the Lake District, Yorkshire and the Peak District, claiming the views were `beautiful.' Her worst experience manifested on a day trip to the city of Blackpool, `The beach,' she remarks, `was totally covered with concrete. If you want to see the counterpart of British high culture than you should visit Blackpool.'
For van Reuler, a year spent studying abroad highlighted a few, though not many, cultural differences compared to her Dutch campus life. She was surprised to learn that in the academic program, `every piece of course work is marked by two examiners and might later be seen by an external examiner,' and that the library stays open for seven days a week, 24 hours each day. She also noted, `students were not required to buy their own books.'
This was the second trip abroad for van Reuler; she also participated in a summer internship to Australia in 2005, and both experiences lead her to the opinion, `I would certainly recommend for people to go abroad for study purposes.'
Tjeerd in Ireland
In 2007, Tjeerd Schuitemaker, a Mechanical Engineering student, mastering in Fluid Dynamics, went on a four-month internship to the Trinity College Dublin in Ireland.
Allotting ample time outside his internship, he traveled to Houth on the peninsula coast, the Cliffs of Moher and the Connemara, noting along the way that the people of Ireland were `really nice and hospitable.' According to Schuitemaker, `It is said that Irish people are the friendliest people in the world.' As proof, `Just go to a pub with live music and drink a pint of Guinness. You will soon discover what I mean.'
How did the experience change him? He says, `I think I now know more about the world, and I look at the world around me with a broader view.'
For more information on Let's Go!, visit this website: http://www.utwente.nl/letsgo
