On February 5th, the Office of Global Programs presented the Study Abroad Fair in the Dr. Clinton Bristow Jr. Dining Facility at Alcorn State University (ASU) to inform students of several overseas programs and scholarships that are available.
Although many students have never left their home country, studying abroad may be one of the most beneficial experiences for any college student. Several benefits include traveling, learning a new language and exploring different career paths. Dr. Dovi Alipoe, Director of Global Programs, explained that, “Every student should experience studying in another country for at least one semester before they graduate.” Students that decide to study abroad will have the opportunity to live and learn in another country while earning academic credit towards their degree at Alcorn. The mission of the Office of Global Programs at ASU is to facilitate sustainable global engagement through infusion of up-to-date and relevant international content, activities, and knowledge to enhance the global competence of students, faculty, staff, or other stakeholders.
Study Abroad providers such as the Knowledge Exchange Institute (KEI), the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), and the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) have over 50 countries for students to choose from. Students may study in Australia, China, Costa Rica, England, India, Thailand and more. KEI is the most popular provider used by students at Alcorn because of the $1,000 grant given to each student and the in-country director that assists students while they are studying abroad. Dr. Alipoe states, “This is a great opportunity for all students to get a chance to study in another country because of the cultural changes in the workforce.”
He went on to explain the process that one must go through before applying. Students must be classified as a Freshmen, Sophomore, or Junior and have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Seniors may only study abroad in the semester that they are not graduating. Students can pay for studying abroad through financial aid, grants, and scholarships. Several scholarships are available on Alcorn’s website, alcorn.edu/global programs. The one that Dr. Alipoe recommends is the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship which awards up to $8,000 a semester.
Taleah Chambers, a Sophomore Pre-Veterinarian major, described her experience of studying in Thailand through KEI. Several key things that she enjoyed in Thailand was the weather, the scenery and the culture. During the fair, Chambers displayed a slide show that displayed pictures of her touring temples, palaces, museums and zoos. She also had other souvenirs along with Thai baht (Thailand’s currency).
Students interested in studying abroad should visit the Office of Global Programs on campus or contact them at (601) 877-6533.