How does studying abroad impact long-term career opportunities for undergraduates’ students?

• In Event: 21020 - Section on Sociology of Education Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 3: Learning and Mentoring in Higher Education

Abstract

Although studying overseas is frequently linked to exposure to different cultures and academic enrichment, its long-term consequences on career paths are still a crucial topic of research. This study looks at how international study abroad experiences affect undergraduate students' employability, career advancement, and professional prospects. This study investigates the potential benefits of studying abroad for skill development, job success, and international career mobility using both qualitative and quantitative data from alumni surveys and interviews.

By evaluating employability outcomes, skill development, global career mobility, and professional networking opportunities, this study aims to investigate the long-term career benefits of studying abroad on undergraduate students. This study specifically seeks to ascertain whether students who study abroad have greater employment placement rates, accelerate career advancement, and have more opportunities for foreign employment than their counterparts who do not. Additionally, this study investigates how study abroad programs help students build their professional networks and find work. Through the examination of both quantitative and qualitative data, this study offers businesses, politicians, and academic institutions important information about how well study abroad programs influence students' career paths and guarantee fair employment chances.

Studying abroad is positively correlated with job placement rates, according to research from the Institute of International Education (IIE). The Gaining an Employment Edge: The Impact of Study Abroad on 21st Century Skills & Career Prospects report (IIE, 2017) states that students who take part in foreign education programs have speedier job placement after graduation and greater employment rates. According to the survey, companies choose applicants with foreign experience because they exhibit flexibility, problem-solving abilities, and cross-cultural competence. Similarly, compared to those who did not study abroad, study abroad graduates have a higher chance of landing jobs in their desired fields within six months of graduation, according to a report published by the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES Abroad) (Study Abroad: A Lifetime of Benefits, 2012).

Author

• Stephanie L. Compton, Grambling State University