EUSA – Academic Internship Programs Welcomes First Students to Benefit from its Generation Study Abroad Scholarship Support Commitment
Boston, MA; Albany, NY (PRWEB) March 27, 2016 -- EUSA – Academic Internship Programs has welcomed the first cohort of students to benefit from its commitment to provide scholarship support as part of Generation Study Abroad. EUSA has partnered with the University at Albany - SUNY to help make the life-changing experience of studying and interning abroad possible for underrepresented students.
Generation Study Abroad (http://www.iie.org/generationstudyabroad) is an initiative of the Institute of International Education that seeks to mobilize resources and commitments with the goal of doubling the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade. Since launching the initiative in 2014, 600 univerisities, international education organizations, and national governments have pledged their active support. According to Dr. Allan E. Goodman, President and CEO, IIE, “International experience is one of the most important components of a 21st century resume.”
Dr. Alfonso Egea de Haro, Professor with the UAlbany Madrid Program, has witnessed the favorable impact of study abroad: “Students who perform internships while pursuing a semester in Madrid considerably improve their knowledge of the Spanish language within a cultural context. EUSA internships help them gain a perception of language beyond the academic approach; they develop the skills to practically use the words they have learned in the classroom.”
With over 30 years experience of designing and implementing high quality, customized academic internship programs that immerse partners' students in new cultures, EUSA recognizes the positive impact of study abroad experience on student lives and careers.
“Our team is incredibly dedicated to our students and to study abroad itself,” says Julie Kelly, Executive Director of EUSA – Academic Internship Programs. “Most of us had the opportunity to live, study, and work abroad, so we know firsthand how much it means to your personal and professional growth. We are eager to help create opportunities for more and more diverse students to have these life-changing experiences.”
Dr. José Carlos Vela Bueno, Director of the UAlbany Madrid Program, emphasizes the professional advantages of such opportunities: “EUSA internships are extremely beneficial in building up the resume and, from what I know from previous students, very important in developing a professional career in the future.”
In addition to its commitment to expand internship opportunities for SUNY by offering free placement services for five underrepresented students per year for five years, EUSA has also committed to
• Develop media content targeted to study abroad offices, career centers, students and parents, promoting the meaningful impact of international experience on graduate employability.
• Contribute annually and support the fundraising efforts of study abroad scholarship organizations such as the Fund for Education Abroad.
• Aim to grow student enrollment by 50% over the five-year life span of the initiative.
About EUSA – Academic Internship Programs
http://www.eusainternships.org
Established in 1984, EUSA is an international, not-for-profit, internship organization in partnership with Boston University.
EUSA builds and implements customized, academically-directed internship programs in Europe for educational partners, including universities, colleges, departments, programs, and individual professors. EUSA and its partner academic institutions believe strongly that internships undertaken as part of a study abroad or study away program are more than practical training: they constitute an important compliment to the learning of the classroom and promote the advancement of cultural understanding.
EUSA currently works with over 50 universities worldwide and places close to 2,000 students in internships in London, Dublin, Madrid, Paris, and Prague each year.
About the University at Albany - SUNY
http://www.albany.edu
Educationally and culturally, the University at Albany-SUNY puts “The World Within Reach” for its more than 17,300 students. An internationally recognized research university with 118 undergraduate majors and minors and 138 graduate programs, UAlbany is a leader among all New York State colleges and universities in such diverse fields as criminal justice, information science, public administration, social welfare, business and sociology. With a curriculum enhanced by 500 study-abroad opportunities, UAlbany launches great careers. Visit UAlbany's extensive roster of faculty experts (http://www.albany.edu/news/experts.php), and for a database of images, visit UAlbanyPhotos (http://ualbanyphotos.smugmug.com/).
About Generation Study Abroad
http://www.iie.org/Programs/Generation-Study-Abroad
Generation Study Abroad seeks to significantly increase study abroad participation by bringing employers, governments, associations, and others together to build on current best practices and find new ways to extend study abroad opportunities and resources to tens of thousands of college students whose needs are not currently served by existing programs. Generation Study Abroad will sustain an ongoing dialogue about the need for more students from all backgrounds and in all fields to gain international experience. This will include research to identify and break down barriers hindering students from studying abroad, communications to share strategies and best practices to increase study abroad, and fundraising to mobilize additional financial resources.
About the Institute of International Education
http://www.iie.org/en
The Institute of International Education is a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. An independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of 19 offices and affiliates worldwide and over 1,200 member institutions. IIE designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporations. IIE also conducts policy research and program evaluations, and provides advising and counseling on international education and opportunities abroad.
Rebecca Woolf, EUSA - Academic Internship Programs, http://www.eusainternships.org, +353 14434266, [email protected]
Share this article