What do you gain from a stay abroad?
The cultural insights and advantages you gain from a stay abroad depend on several factors, including your destination, the length of your stay, and your interest in getting to know the culture and people around you.
International nettwork
A stay abroad can result in a new circle of friends and lifelong friendships. You will meet people from various cultures and countries, creating connections that might even offer you a couch to sleep on if you visit them later in life. Additionally, this network can be valuable in your professional life.
Career advantages
Several studies consistently show the same results: going on exchange is worth it. The Erasmus Impact Study (external link), a comprehensive European survey, demonstrates that mobility programs have a positive impact on students’ job prospects. Students who have studied abroad gain personal qualities such as tolerance, self-confidence, curiosity, and problem-solving skills, making them more attractive to employers. The same study also reveals that students with international experience are often entrusted with more responsibility by their employers.
For many fields of study, having international experience is crucial when applying for jobs after graduation. This is especially true for careers where you’ll work with diverse cultures, such as in the travel industry, political positions, education, and various other sectors.
Personal development
During a stay abroad, you will get to know yourself better. The Erasmus Impact Study (external link) highlights that exchange students develop positive traits such as tolerance, self-confidence, curiosity, and problem-solving abilities.
Language development and cultural competence
Living in another country and studying or working in a language other than your own provides you with linguistic and cultural skills far deeper than what can be achieved as a tourist. You will have the chance to travel to English-, French-, German-, or Spanish-speaking countries, for example, and improve the language skills you already have.
You will also meet many people with different cultural backgrounds and perspectives. A stay abroad is the perfect opportunity to gain insight into a wide range of cultures, norms, and traditions.
By participating in the short course on intercultural communication offered by the International Office in connection with your exchange, you will gain an even deeper understanding of your own and others’ cultures. This course is called the INN Model for Intercultural Competence Development, and you can read more about it further down on this webpage.
Increased academic outcomes
A studying abroad can significantly enrich your education by exposing you to different approaches to academic material and research, opening new perspectives and providing deeper understanding of your field. Additionally, spending time at a partner institution will immerse you in a different academic environment with new teaching methods, making you more aware of how you study and learn.
A traineeship abroad can give you important insights into other cultures’ norms and attitudes. Different cultures have unique ways of expressing desires, comfort, pain, and other emotions. An internship abroad is therefore essential for offering the best possible assistance to people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.
Course in Intercultural Communication
Everyone going on a student mobility is required to participate in a brief course on intercultural communication, called the INN Model for Intercultural Competence Development. This course has been designed to support exchange students in developing the skills needed to communicate effectively and appropriately across cultural differences.
Your intercultural learning begins with becoming aware of your own cultural lens and understanding how you perceive and experience the world within a cultural and social context.