The number of American students studying abroad has risen dramatically over the past decade. In the 2016-2017 academic year, more than 332,000 U.S. students participated in study abroad programs around the world — nearly 100,000 more than 10 years ago.
But we need to encourage more students to venture beyond European and English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, whose cultures are often similar to ours. According to recent data from the Institute of International Education, while interest in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East rose significantly in the past year, almost half of students studying abroad still chose a European country. One in nine students studied in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, Australia saw one of the highest increases in American student enrollment over the past year, at over 9%.
While studying abroad is beneficial no matter the destination, the best experiences happen when students are introduced to vastly different cultures, which offers exposure to new languages, unfamiliar traditions, and new religions.
Studies have shown that studying abroad improves students’ career opportunities. Thanks to skills gained abroad such as problem-solving, language ability, and adaptability, 41% of American employers consider offering a higher salary to a job candidate who has studied in another country, according to a study by Hostelworld. But with 95% of consumers living outside the United States, employers are especially looking for applicants with an understanding of cultures that most Americans don’t have.
As executive director of Passages, a program that takes American Christian college students to Israel, I have seen firsthand how many American businesses consider knowledge of Israel’s culture valuable. Israel did $35.5 billion in trade with the U.S. in 2018, in areas such as precious metals, machinery, and aircraft. U.S. foreign direct investment in Israel is skyrocketing, especially in scientific and technical companies. It reached $26.7 billion in 2017, a 158% increase from 2016. As a result, it pays to have experience with Israeli culture.
Many of our alumni have gone on to work in fields and positions directly related to what they learned during their time in Israel. One alumna is running for state office this year, while another works for the Israeli Consulate in Guatemala.
Like many others, Israeli culture has nuances that only people who have lived or traveled there would understand. The Hebrew language, for example, is notable for its brevity. Whereas an English speaker might say, “Could I please have some water?” the same question, in Hebrew, would be translated as, “It’s possible, water?” This brevity could be interpreted as rudeness in a business setting without a proper understanding of the language and culture.
More broadly, a report from Scientific American showed that knowing a foreign language can improve your decision-making skills, thus better equipping students for potential careers. But study abroad programs today are moving beyond just language.
More and more programs, especially in non-English-speaking countries, are offering interdisciplinary fields of study. Passages’ programs not only strengthen students’ personal faith but also educate students in the unique history of the region and expose them to the complex religious and geopolitical issues facing the Middle East.
Interdisciplinary study is of growing importance to employers as job classifications become less defined than they once were. A majority of employers believe that having both field-specific knowledge and a broad range of skills, skills best learned from this kind of study, is important for continuing career success, according to a study conducted by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. Roughly 9 in 10 employers said they ask employees to take on responsibilities that require a greater range of skillsets than in the past.
But the benefits of studying abroad go beyond your career. Studying abroad can be a catalyst for personal growth that makes students better leaders in their families, faith institutions, and communities. An IES Abroad alumni survey found that over 95% of students attributed increased maturity and confidence to their study abroad experiences. About 90% said studying abroad influenced them to seek out a greater diversity of friends.
We need leaders in politics, business, medicine, education, and faith who have an awareness of and appreciation for foreign cultures, especially those in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, where Americans are underrepresented. Many people in these areas of the world have never met an American. Study abroad is an opportunity to expose these people to our young adults’ spirit of tolerance, curiosity, and adventure.
As students head around the globe for summer study abroad trips, let’s encourage them to pursue adventure and look for experiences outside our American comfort zone. As others begin to make study abroad plans for the fall, let’s highlight the opportunities waiting for them in places they might never expect.
Scott Phillips is the executive director of Passages Israel.
