In an economically depressed job market, college students are scrambling to set themselves apart with international experience. But myths about the affordability and accessibility of study abroad programs are behind the low participation rates of under-represented students, experts say.
As global competency becomes a growing advantage for job seekers, study abroad agencies said the industry needs to ramp up efforts to bring minority students into the fold with new tactics and fresh approaches.
“I think for some time it’s been a self-fulfilled prophecy; these students aren’t going abroad, so we are not paying attention to them,” said Andrew Gordon, president of Diversity Abroad, a program dedicated to sending under-represented students overseas.
Although finances are a concern for these students, limited awareness about the benefits of studying in another country is a greater obstacle, said a focus group convened by the global nonprofit organization IES Abroad.
