ADVERTORIAL
Measuring the Career Impact of Study Abroad WRITTEN BY WILLIAM MCDONALD, DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS AND ENROLMENT
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s parents, we seem to know inherently that studying abroad is an incredibly valuable experience. We chose international schools for our children, knowing the many advantages they will gain from pursuing a globallyrecognized school curriculum, earning advanced placement in universities through International Baccalaureate or A.P. Exams, or even just from studying in a more diverse classroom. We invest because we know that it gives them an advantage when they are ready for higher education. We hope that they will continue to choose the options that give them the most competitive advantages as they become
adults and enter the working world. Enrolling at a university abroad—or at least pursuing a semester of study abroad—also imply further investments in their future success. Yet, how can we measure the benefits of a study abroad experience? How can we trust that it’s worth the investment? Fortunately, teams of international educators and researchers have examined the impact of study abroad. As we can imagine, the European Union invests heavily in its Erasmus program, so as far back as 2014, the EU Commission has studied the impact of study exchange on skills development and employability. INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PARENT AUTUMN 2021 | 16
In 2017, the Institute for International Education (IIE) analysed how studying abroad gave university students a career edge, analysing 15 soft and hard skills drawn from competencies identified as most desired by 21st-century employers. Others like the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES Abroad) also report direct benefits of study abroad on early and long-term career prospects. As an international educator, I was pleased to learn that a plethora of research is available to back our assumptions as parents: studying abroad brings a direct, measurable impact on personal and career growth. For example, in one study that
