NEW YORK, April 13, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- College-level study abroad programs continue to innovate and rise to the challenges of today's rapidly changing world. With "study at home" directives coming from their colleges, students now have new options to see the world in the form of "Virtual Study Abroad" and "Virtual Internship" programs. The first of these stopgap options are rolling out for the upcoming summer break and are helping students cope with home study. "New programs like these are a sign of hope for students stuck at home. With the online options, students can explore a global immersion while they wait for travel restrictions to lift. While never as good as the real thing, virtual study abroad can be a cultural bridge until they can be there in person," says Phil Kollitsis, Managing Director of Abroad101.
Abroad101 has compiled a list of these virtual education abroad programs https://www.studyabroad101.com/countries/virtual-online in response to growing interest and has added four new programs just this week. While nobody in the field sees this as a permanent shift, an online immersion should prove to be the second-best alternative. One example of virtual study abroad comes from Arcadia University, who was one of the first study abroad providers to announce an online education abroad program for the summer. Called Virtual Europe https://studyabroad.arcadia.edu/virtual-europe. Dr. Andrew Law, Academic Dean, The College of Global Studies at Arcadia University explained that the program's goal is to "take engaged local learning into the virtual space. The courses will all employ, to the degree possible, engagement with local realities in order to bring the course material alive for the students, asking them to navigate difference in the same ways that we have them do so when they are in-country, just virtually. Virtual Europe has created online learning opportunities that embody the pedagogy of context-informed learning that is at the heart of the Arcadia Abroad's educational mission, vision and lived values."
"Study Abroad is not Dead" says Abroad101's Kollitsis. "Program managers, providers and host universities worked tirelessly to assure the safe return of students this semester and that same passion and dedication is reflected in the creation of suitable alternatives for the upcoming summer session. While we all long to venture back out again, we can take temporary comfort in exploring the world, online, guided by renowned faculty and facilitated by reliable providers, the hallmark of credit bearing college study abroad."
Another advocate for study abroad is Missy Gluckmann, founder of Melibee Global and the International Education Career Academy. She said, "Study abroad isn't going away. It will change and we will adapt - opening up new roles for technology and cross-cultural learning for those who are inspired to connect people across cultures and disciplines. As an international education career coach, I remind them that our resiliency is not about whether we "sink or swim" but rather how we approach and navigate through change. Our field is changing, no doubt. I expect that when we look back in the rearview mirror, we'll be grateful for a new path that was unexpectedly forged despite the painful times we are experiencing today."
About Abroad101
Founded in 2007, Abroad101 is the first and largest study abroad review website and program evaluation software. This innovative platform serves past and future students, parents and advisors through its market-leading online evaluation tool. Under the direction of their academic advisors or program providers, students complete thorough online evaluations hosted by Abroad101 with both quantitative and qualitative responses. Excerpts from those evaluations get published for the public in the form of Study Abroad Reviews. Online at: http://www.StudyAbroad101.com
About Arcadia Abroad
Arcadia has been a leader in study abroad for over 75 years and in 2009, its existing Center for Education Abroad was elevated to College status, thereby creating The College of Global Studies. It is the first College of its kind dedicated to the delivery and development of education abroad. Nearly 3,000 students from over 300 colleges and universities participate in Arcadia University's programs abroad each year. Online at https://studyabroad.arcadia.edu/
About Melibee Global
Melibee Global books talented culture and food speakers at colleges, companies, and conferences and offers innovative professional development to those who care about culture, travel, and diversity. Melibee created and trains at the International Education Career Academy, the first program of its kind to formally train those interested in international education as a career path to craft effective applications for stellar jobs in the field of International Education. Online at: https://melibeeglobal.com/
SOURCE Abroad101
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