Students urged to travel abroad

Allison Martens

“Go away.” That was the message at the fifth annual Study Abroad Fair that was held on Nov. 2 to encourage students to pursue their education across borders through Concordia’s Inter-national Student Exchange Program (ISEP).

More than 650 students visited the library building atrium to meet others who had gone abroad and ask questions about programs to suit their academic and personal needs.

“I would like to experience daily life in a country not as a backpacker, but to participate in society there the same way I do here. I want to have an international career, so this is a good start,” said Nicolas Poirier, a first year student in Applied Human Sciences.

This year, more than 200 Concordia students are studying in Europe, Asia, Oceania and South America. That’s double the number of adventure-seekers who went on exchanges 10 years ago.

Frederick Francis, Deputy Director of Concordia’s Centre for International Academic Cooperation, said this is partly due to the increased amount of funding available to students who wish to go on exchange.

Five years ago, the Quebec government introduced mobility bursaries. These give eligible students between $750 and $1,000 per month to study abroad for a period between two to eight months.

In a world with increasingly blurred borders, students are acutely aware of the value international experience can add to their degrees.

JMSB student Joe Tosaj spent the last winter semester taking business courses at Groningen University in the Netherlands.

“I wasn’t just introduced to a host culture: I was introduced to the culture of international business. It allows students to see if they can hack it in an international environment while they still have a safety net.”

Students must choose their courses prior to departure, and keep in close contact with an academic advisor to ensure they will meet their degree requirements at Concordia.
“This is not about academic tourism. The focus remains firmly on studies. That’s why they’re there in the first place,” Francis said.

Student eligibility varies among faculties and should be verified.