Rachel Wu admits she’s always looking for something new in life. That’s why she moved from her remote hometown in China to Hong Kong for an education at Hong Kong Baptist University.
The second-year biology major made an even greater move this fall – halfway around the world in fact – to spend a year in Morgantown to study at West Virginia University.
“This is so much different from Hong Kong; it’s such a giant city, and it’s fast-paced,” Wu explained. “Here, there’s a lot less people, and the scenery is so beautiful. When I heard there was a chance to go to another country to study, I just grabbed this opportunity to experience something new.”
WVU freshman Sean Russler hopes to make a similar change next year. The Lynchburg, Va., native, who is friends with Wu, is planning to study at Hong Kong Baptist next fall.
“I’d always wanted to go over to China to study, so I made it a point to befriend the people from the place I wanted to go to,” said Russler, a Chinese studies major. “The world is becoming very global.”
The two walked into Wednesday’s Study Abroad fair in the Mountainlair Ballrooms, where more than 25 booths were set up to help introduce students to the many study abroad programs offered at the University.
“This is becoming a key element in a university education in pretty much every major. It can be done affordably and safely,” said Michael Lastinger, associate provost of International Academic Affairs. “Studying abroad changes lives around the world. We will touch lives when we’re abroad, and we will touch lives when we visit these other countries.”
WVU offers a multitude of different programs including faculty-led and exchange, among others. The University also offers short-term programs with faculty and long-term programs with faculty or with international hosts, among others.
Lastinger said that nearly 1,000 WVU students studied abroad last year and more continue to do so each year. WVU is hosting about 1,400 students this year, as well. Some are through the exchange program, while others are degree-seeking students, Lastinger explained.
“My impression of WVU is that many people don’t want to go to another country,” Wu said. “But, it’s so different in Hong Kong. Everybody knows the study abroad programs very well there, and I think students here need to know more about the wonderful study abroad programs that are available at WVU.”
One of the largest study abroad programs WVU offers that continues to grow each year is a semester abroad at the University of Strasbourg in France, where 10 WVU students are currently studying. Those students take courses from a broad range of topics including political science, economics, business, managements, history, art, languages, literature and culture. It is unique, though, because all of these classes are taught in English.
“Even though they are taught in English, they are taught by non-U.S. professors, so they can take these specialized courses from a non-U.S. perspective and walk away with a real sense of what these countries are really concerned with,” said Joe Hagan, the Barnette Professor of political science and director of international studies program in the department of Political Science.
These 10 students are lodged in the Chateau de Pourtales, a famous castle in France. Lastinger said traveling abroad through WVU programs is a cost-effective way to do so, as it isn’t much more than studying on-campus in Morgantown.
“It’s affordable, the programs that we have are very well supported by the University and by the universities abroad,” Hagan said. “Learning international perspectives is invaluable. Employers, graduate schools and other groups appreciate someone who has studied abroad. It really adds to your resume.”
Michael Vercelli, an assistant professor of percussion at WVU, organized “Project Ghana” which is a study abroad course focused on music, dance and cultural emersion that has been taking place since 2006.
“Students don’t just learn about other cultures, but they learn a lot about themselves, too,” Vercelli said. “Most students find out a lot about themselves that they didn’t know when they get to a different place when there’s no running water and no electricity. They find out how difficult it is, and they gain a much bigger view of the world.”
Students who were unable to make the Study Abroad fair can continue to learn about the various programs at Study Abroad 101 sessions held periodically. For more information: http://internationalprograms.wvu.edu/us_students/study_abroad_101. For more information, you can contact the Office of International Programs by emailing OIP@mail.wvu.edu, calling 304-293-6955 or going to its office in 336 Stansbury Hall.
“There’s always a fear factor when studying abroad. But, there are a lot of positives to studying abroad,” Vercelli said. “If students want to travel around the world, this is one of the safest ways to do it. If you come into a situation like this, there’s a support network with professors and other students where it can make it easier.”
The priority deadline to study abroad in fall 2012 is in mid-January, said Semoa De Sousa-Brown, study abroad coordinator at the Office of International Programs. Applications are accepted through April, however.
“If we don’t offer a study abroad program to a specific city or part of the world that a student would like to go to, we have affiliated programs to give students other options,” De Sousa-Brown said. “The greatest award students get is the level of maturity that they get after they get back. They get to appreciate not only people from other countries but they learn to appreciate themselves better, as well.”
-WVU-
td/09/29/11
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