Students can travel to Study Abroad Fair

By: Cari Wafford/Staff Reporter

Posted: 9/10/08

Farhan Aziz said students could expect to learn about the opportunities studying abroad provides today.

"Students are encouraged to participate for a full semester so that they get the full cultural experience," said Aziz, coordinator for the Office of Study Abroad.

The office will host the Study Abroad Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today in the University Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

The fair is intended for students to gain a complete understanding about faculty-led programs that go places such as Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands and England.

Different booths will display information regarding financial aid and health services.

Partner programs will also be featured at the fair. Sogang University in Seoul, South Korea will highlight the partner program this year.

Two Eastern students enrolled at Sogang University will be available at the fair to answer questions about the exchange program.

Sogang University and Eastern will provide a scholarship for a student, as part of the program.

The scholarship would waive the student's tuition and the student's only extra expenses would be housing and living expenses.

Upon entering the fair, each student will receive a fake passport and will need to talk to at least three representatives to be entered in a raffle drawing.

The winning contestants will be e-mailed.

Other partner programs available for students include studying at the University of Winchester in England, the Culinary Institute of Florence and Harlaxton College in England.

Aziz said studying abroad is an excellent way to gain new experiences and build a resume.

Audra Dust is one of hundreds of students who have participated in the study abroad program at Eastern.

Dust spent five weeks in San Jose, Costa Rica studying marine biology and conversational Spanish.

"We actually got to go to the coral reef and see what we're studying and the Spanish class was four hours long and very intensive," Dust said.

Aziz said studying abroad gives the impression that students are flexible with time and culturally adept.

"Employers look for international experience," he said.

Students can receive more information about study abroad by attending an information session every Monday and Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in Blair Hall.

Cari Wafford can be reached at 581-7942 or at cmwafford@eiu.edu.