Maturity, practical independence, self-confidence and greater self-awareness, and improved skills for building better relationships with others are just a few personal benefits young people gain from international educational experiences.
On a practical level, they become fluent in other languages, better understand other cultures and have a greater appreciation of their own, are able to better determine their career choices and begin building resumes well before college.
Studying abroad is not for every high school teen, but most colleges and universities offer opportunities for their students, and the personal and practical benefits of international education programs still apply for college-age students. The University of Wisconsin International Education Program states that "To engage fully with the globalized world of the 21st century, future graduates must possess multicultural and global perspectives gained through intellectual and social exchange with people of diverse backgrounds. One of the most effective ways to develop such perspectives is to experience living, learning and working in another country or culture." |
