A study abroad experience can last a lifetime. Students who go abroad with the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) bring home new perspectives, connections, and experiences that continue to shape their lives and create opportunities for others long after they return.
Stretching between Spain and France, the Pyrenees offer students the chance to explore breathtaking landscapes beyond their host cities. Bilbao and San Sebastián, Spain, serve as gateways to the western end of the mountain range, while Pau, France, offers sweeping views from its iconic Boulevard des Pyrénées. Like the mountains themselves, the opportunities and connections created through study abroad extend far beyond any one destination.
From the people who welcome students to the remarkable landscapes they explore, study abroad offers experiences that can change how students see and understand the world. Just as these experiences shape students, it's important to consider our responsibility to the places that make them possible.
So far, we've expanded sustainability-focused coursework within 15 programs and eliminated more than 3,000 paper documents through digital processes. Through the Green Pact, USAC aims to significantly reduce its carbon footprint by 2030, helping support a more sustainable future for students and communities worldwide.
Jessica S. and Madison S. never planned to become authors, but their experience studying abroad in Prague, Czech Republic, inspired them to take an unexpected path. After recognizing the need for a practical study abroad guidebook, they decided to write one themselves. Drawing on their own experiences, they created a resource to help future students prepare for study abroad, navigate common challenges, and make the most of their time overseas.
Jessica and Madison share how their experience in Prague inspired them to turn what they learned abroad into a resource for others on THE Study Abroad Pod.
Studying abroad in Alicante inspired Reed Y. to continue exploring new cultures, eventually leading him and his best friend, Ethan G., to create a Spanish language learning app, Avita, that helps others connect across cultures.
After studying abroad in Nagasaki, Japan, Rachelle S. returned to teach English through the JET Program. Her experience eventually led to a career in international education at her alma mater, Washington State University, where she helps other students pursue their own study abroad opportunities.
More than a decade after studying abroad in Bilbao, Spain, Nick R. continues to carry his experience into his community. Inspired by the hospitality he received abroad, he now serves on the board of the Iowa International Center, helping immigrants feel welcome and connected in his home state.
Studying abroad in Hiroshima, Japan, gave Tyler O. an opportunity to explore his Japanese heritage while expanding his understanding of identity and belonging in a global context. “Study abroad helps us appreciate what we have,” he shared on the USAC Blog, “whether it’s our heritage or sense of belonging.”
The impact of study abroad extends beyond the students themselves, reaching the people and communities they connect with throughout their lives. Through ELEVATE, we're working to expand access to these experiences so more students have the opportunity to make an impact of their own.
ELEVATE USAC is a yearlong advocacy and fundraising initiative highlighting the expansive impact that study abroad creates for students. Together, we are elevating student experiences and expanding access to students from all backgrounds.
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