International School Parent Magazine - Autumn 2021

ADVERTORIAL
problem-solving—and a study abroad
experience is an immersion in the unknown.
Perhaps the most essential skills for those
young people entering the unknown job
market will not only be the capacity to
problem-solve creatively but to demonstrate
their experiences and personal confidence for
responding to unanticipated problems
in creative ways. Living in foreign
cultures allows for this experience and
builds confidence. This confidence will
enable students to make decisions based
on their convictions and trust in their
competencies—and this is a metric that
is consistently reported to be enhanced
through long-term study abroad experience.
This also helps to put students in the
driver’s seat on the road to their future
careers.
In one study from the IES Abroad,
which looked at the impact of study abroad
experiences on its alumni over time, 96%
reported that studying abroad served as an
overall catalyst for increased maturity and
self-confidence. And they not only reported
increase employability but also that they
secured jobs more quickly than their peers-
-and earned an average of about $6,000
more per year for their first salary out of
university than the national average—all of
which speak to a return on that investment.
Study Abroad at Webster University
We see these dynamics playing out at
Webster University Geneva, where only
a third of our entering class of bachelor
students come from high schools based in
Switzerland—and where a large majority
of our students (83% in our most recent
incoming class) are non-Swiss citizens.
In our most recent intake, there were 38
distinct nationalities represented, and across
the campus, it’s not unusual to have 90
nationalities enrolled in any given semester
in Switzerland. On average, our Geneva
campus also hosts about 100 study abroad
students each year, both from other Webster
campuses and from other universities in the
U.S.A.
The value of living in the international
milieu of Geneva and studying highly
diverse classrooms brings direct benefits to
students by developing the personal traits,
knowledge and competencies that directly
impact Career Readiness. Our Career
Services office works on a Career Plan with
each student, helping them track progress
in these critical knowledge areas and skills
they can develop in course work or through
co-curricular experiences like internships—
or even internships abroad. In addition to
personal coaching and mentoring, students
have opportunities to attend career-related
workshops, alumni panels and other events
that expose them toward higher aspirations,
whether for obtaining an internship, their
first professional job or admission into
competitive master programs for further
(postgraduate) studies.
In our most recent graduating class
(2021), Career Services reported that 82%
of bachelor students gained some form
of work experience during their studies
through internships, work-study positions
on campus, or jobs off-campus (or during
summer). In the 2021 cohort, 55% of
bachelor students pursued internships
during their degree program (56% in
Switzerland and 44% in another location).
Our most recent research on young alumni
in 2020 also found that 91% of bachelor
alumni were engaged within six months of
graduation in either an internship, full-time
employment or further graduate studies.
We continue to refine our programs and
activities to support developing individual
career readiness.
Study Abroad during Covid-19
A final note is that the exchange of students
for temporary study abroad at many
universities was suspended during the
pandemic’s peak. Yet, student mobility for
degree-seeking candidates abroad continues
to be in demand, and many consular offices
re-opened for processing of student visas
in Spring 2021. Administrators at many
universities, of course, are anticipating
some ‘pent-up demand’ for study abroad
soon. But, in the near term, some unknowns
remain—yet student mobility is expected
to grow worldwide in the long term. For
example, Webster University has re-opened
its study abroad programs and continues
to promote the option within its global
network.
Webster University (worldwide), based in St. Louis, USA, has an international network of
campuses across Europe, Asia, and Africa. It provides unique options for student mobility:
semesters or summers abroad within its international campus network are available to
students who declare an interest. The University has been recognised in US News and
World Report among only 56 out of 1,500+ institutions of higher education placed on this
list, placing the University in the top 3% of universities for Study Abroad (this was also the
12th time Webster has been recognised by U.S. News & World Report for its study abroad
programs since 2003). As a U.S. Accredited, non-profit University based in St. Louis, its
mission is to ensure high-quality learning experiences that transform students for global
citizenship and individual excellence. Learn more at webster.ch/success
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PARENT AUTUMN 2021 | 18