Every year, over 400 students participate in the University of Tampa’s study abroad programs. Out of these 400 students, about half of them participate in a UT Travel Course Abroad.
Each semester, there is a wide variety of travel courses offered, but there must be a certain amount of students that sign up in order for the class to actually be held. Those students who did sign up are left without a class and a trip.
A journalism course was planned to go to Malaysia and Singapore last spring, but it was cancelled due to insufficient student enrollment.
“In order to do a travel course you have to go seek it out yourself,” said Cara Kootz, a junior marketing major who went on a travel course to Japan last spring. “And I think a lot more people would do them if they knew more about them.”
The Office of International Programs has various events they do throughout the year to promote studying abroad including the Spartans Abroad Fair, which is held each semester to promote the programs to the student body.
“We also speak during open houses and orientation sessions so that students know we’re here when they want to talk about education abroad options,” said Elizabeth Mills, Coordinator of International Education Programs and Outreach. “In addition, we have a student organization called the Spartans Abroad Ambassadors that is comprised of students who have studied abroad and are eager to talk to students about the experience and help them sign up.”
However, sometimes it’s not a promotion issue but a financial issue. There are many funding options for education abroad programs, including travel courses. An information sheet that discusses scholarships is offered at the study abroad office on the third floor of Plant Hall. There are also national scholarships like the Boren scholarship, the Gilman scholarship and the Fulbright program, which fund students to study abroad for a semester or longer.
“Travel courses have been offered for a long time at UT,” Mills said. “They are a great way to internationalize UT’s curriculum and serve as an experiential component to the course content that allows students to see and experience first-hand what the professor is trying to teach.”
If a student doesn’t feel prepared to travel for a semester, then a travel course is a better and safer option. “I had never been outside of the U.S. and wasn’t ready to make such a huge commitment so I chose a travel course instead,” Kootz said.
“We’ve seen an increase in education abroad participation, which is in contrast to national trends, Mills said. In fact, they’ve had a 60 percent increase in education abroad participation over the past five years, according to Mills. More students are making the commitment to study abroad which demonstrates the accomplishments of UT’s Office of International Programs.
In some cases, the classes may not fulfill the necessary quota, which is sometimes unavoidable, but Mills suggests students tell friends to sign up.
“It could be an extra special experience if you have a group of like-minded people who are interested in making the best of the program,” Mills said.
There are many different options for students who are interested in education abroad. It depends on what kind of experience students are looking for. From UT travel courses, which usually last two weeks, to semester/year abroad programs, internships abroad and community-based, service learning trips. With the help of an education abroad advisor, students can decide which program is the best fit for their major and interests.
“Today’s employers seek graduates who have multi-cultural experience and knowledge,” said Katherine Pazda, one of the education abroad advisors. “[They want students] who can communicate in at least one foreign language and who have the basic skills to travel and work outside the U.S.”
Valerie Lara can be reached at valerie.lara@spartans.ut.edu