USF World News

Celebrating international study abroad day, seeking to expand scholarship opportunities

TAMPA, FL (February 13, 2024) -- USF World Education Abroad is excited to celebrate another year of International Study Abroad Day on February 26! This year USF Education Abroad had over 1,000 students attend our multiple study abroad fairs. Students met with faculty, partner representatives, advisors, and GloBull Ambassadors (study abroad alumni) to learn about education abroad, internships, and service-learning opportunities. But the biggest concern with incoming students hoping to travel overseas is funding. At USF, only 10% of study abroad scholarship applicants are awarded partial scholarships. Access to scholarships is essential for USF students to be able to study abroad and empower them with global education. USF’s World Advisory Council launched a campaign last year and hopes to raise $9,000 to endow a study abroad scholarship fund. 

International Study Abroad Day highlights the global impact and benefits of studying overseas. As a high impact practice, study abroad creates a pathway for student engagement as well as enhances their academic experiences, preparing them for a globally competitive work environment. Students return from studying abroad with new perspectives and lifelong skills, such as communicating in other languages, connecting with other students, and networking with professors.

Deeya Patel, a USF student who traveled to Florence Italy during the summer of 2023, said the cultural experience provided profound academic enrichment and enhanced their understanding of both Florentine culture and business law. “Beyond the confines of the classroom, these experiences also fostered personal growth and self-discovery. Engaging in experiential learning opportunities, I found my passion for law ignited and my interest in corporate law amplified. The dynamic classroom environment and hands-on approach to learning has allowed me to flourish academically and personally.” Patel, who is planning on a career in corporate law, added “the combination of rigorous intellectual exploration and immersive cultural experiences has undoubtedly shaped my academic and professional experience.”

Others find inspiration in seeing how other communities are responding and adapting to climate change. Caitlin Coyle, a USF student who hopes one day to work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), said traveling abroad for academic study helped her learn to adapt to novel situations. “I was placed in a situation like what our global ecosystems face now with climate change: I was in a completely different environment, taken away from the place that I knew the best, and told to thrive within my new surroundings. I adapted just like the other species in the world.” Coyle, who also went to Florence, Italy, noted the new integration of electric cars into the city and the efforts of local restaurants to provide locally sourced healthy, sustainable, and affordable meals to the community. “It was inspiring. Through human connection, we can make the world a more sustainable place. Humans are adaptable and sustainable at heart. Going abroad made me visualize the reality that climate change affects us all in more ways than one, and I strive to make the kind of impact in the world that shows we care about the changes that need to be made.” Reflecting on the experience Coyle noticed that “sustainability is about more than global warming, it is diversity, gender equality, food security and more. Every human deserves that, and that is the invaluable gift I received during my study abroad.”

Francesca Delguzzi, who traveled to Iceland, also enjoyed learning about sustainable energy practices in that country. “I learned so much about what the future of energy could look like. Geothermal energy was something that I had never even been aware of, yet it is such a sustainable, clean form of energy that could be a blueprint for future clean energy sources.”

These students are making an impact in their communities by learning about and forging ties with other communities around the world. You can join us in celebrating International Study Abroad Day by helping us meet our goal to fund study abroad scholarships. Your contribution will directly address this overwhelming need and empower more students with the opportunity of a lifetime to be a Bull Abroad! Your support will make their global education dreams a reality! Contribute here!