Impact of Education Abroad on Career Development, Vol I - AIFS

<strong>Impact</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Education</strong> <strong>Abroad</strong> on Career DevelopmentPrefaceby Martin Tillman, EditorAssociate Director, Career ServicesJohns Hopkins University School <strong>of</strong> Advanced International Studies (SAIS)In this first <strong>of</strong> two volumes, an exceptionally diverse group <strong>of</strong>international educators from two- and four-year higher educationinstitutions and non-pr<strong>of</strong>it organizations discuss theimpact <strong>of</strong> education abroad on student career development.In Volume II, the companion publication in this series, fivecommunity college educators address this topic through casestudies illustrating their unique approaches to integratingeducation abroad programs with the vocational career goals <strong>of</strong>their students.We live in a challenging era with increased pressures on ourworkforce due to globalization and the demands <strong>of</strong> complexpolitical, social and economic forces. At the same time, studentshave an unprecedented range <strong>of</strong> opportunities availableto broaden their world view and deepen their understanding<strong>of</strong> global issues—whether through formal study abroad programs,non-credit experiential learning programs, volunteerprojects or work abroad. However, as several authors pointout, students too frequently accumulate international experiencesin an ad hoc fashion, absent any clear relationship totheir curricular choices and unrelated to their career goals. Inaddition, even with the best <strong>of</strong> intentions, students have difficultyarticulating—in resumes and job interviews—how theirtravel, study or work abroad experience informs their overallcareer decision-making.Campuses are increasingly recognizing the need to activelyassist students in articulating how their overseas experience(s)has provided greater clarity about their future career goals,and strengthened particular skill areas <strong>of</strong> importance to theemployers for whom they hope to work. The essays in this volumedescribe innovative campus programs to foster increasedcooperation and collaboration between career services andstudy abroad <strong>of</strong>fices; describe the highly positive outcomes <strong>of</strong>overseas programs in relation to both curricular and careerchoices <strong>of</strong> students upon their return to campus; review currentresearch which supports the value <strong>of</strong> both experientialand formal sojourns abroad; provide examples <strong>of</strong> best practiceson campuses for advising students on how to assess the“fit” <strong>of</strong> particular experiences to their career goals and objectives;discuss how to effectively “market” the value-addedskills developed from overseas experiences to employers; andfinally, discuss the importance <strong>of</strong> education abroad for studentswith disabilities (a community which is vastly underservedin all forms <strong>of</strong> education abroad).The research and references cited by the authors will supportinternational educators who seek to effectively integrate educationabroad experiences with the important career developmenttasks facing undergraduate students.7