Internationalization of Canadian campuses rising: study

BURNABY, B.C. (CUP) — Young Canadians are not only more willing to study abroad, but many are noticing the advantages of interacting with international students in the classroom, according to a new study.

The January 6 Higher Education Strategy Associates study surveyed 3,000 students. Approximately nine per cent of students claimed they had already participated in a study abroad program, while an additional 26 per cent admitted they would like to study abroad in the future.

The study indicates a dramatic increase in students willing to study abroad, which has increased seven per cent since 2006.

Despite the cost of studying in another country for a semester, the price tag hasn't turned students off from the once-in-a-lifetime educational experience.

Many participants saw the experience as gaining an "ability to work in diverse cultural settings," which would later prove important when applying for jobs. Seventytwo per cent of students rated "knowledge of international affairs" as a valuable skill learned abroad.

Ada Nadison, a criminology major at Simon Fraser University, recently returned from a semesterlong field school in Greece. For Nadison, the opportunity allowed her to gain the experience necessary to further her career.

"I just wanted to say I experienced something great at university. For my career as a police officer, I needed life experience. It (allowed me) to feed my need and my career's need."

The study also indicated rates for studying abroad are particularly high in the arts, such as education at 13 per cent, and 11 per cent in humanities and social sciences. However, 40 per cent of students in science and math departments stated they never considered or have rejected the idea of studying abroad mainly due to the cost and the idea that it would disrupt their path to graduation.

Nadison echoed students' concerns about the cost. She planned for two years in advance before travelling to Greece and had to apply for both a student loan and bursary to cover the costs of the trip.

Not only are Canadian students seeking academic opportunities in other English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, they are also realizing the benefits of the internationalization of Canadian campuses.

By a margin of roughly 2.5 to one, students agreed that international students enhance the in-class experience. Seven to one believe that foreign students are welcomed and well integrated in campus life.

Lucas Socio, a fourth-year communication major and international student from Brazil, explained that the current Canadian class system doesn't allow for a lot of student interaction. However, he agrees that international students are welcomed at SFU.

Only 23 per cent of students consider international students to be taking opportunities away from Canadian students.

Overall, the study concludes that while some students choose to study abroad, the costs force students to think twice about the experience. Furthermore, students are only willing to travel to countries such as the U.K. and Australia where the English-speaking cultures are similar to Canada's.

Nadison, on the other hand, enjoyed the cultural shock from her three-month stay in Greece.

"It was a big jump from what we're used to here ... (we) had to learn to live on our own in a country where you haven't experienced the culture. (But) I know I can depend on myself now," she concluded. "It's nice to see how simple life is and how spoiled we are here. It was good getting back to your roots and surviving off the minimum."