At University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC), we see firsthand the value that study abroad creates. From the early moments where students are nervous to travel, to gaining confidence daily as they immerse themselves in a new culture, and finally to the professional growth they make as alumni — USAC is here for every step.
Revered as a sacred mountain and the birthplace of Taoism, Mount Quigcheng reminds us of the sacred value of study abroad. Located near Chengdu, China, the lush forests and ancient temples dotting the mountain allow for an introspective and meaningful visit, much as students who study abroad find deep meaning, personal growth, and remarkable understanding in their experience.
Elevate USAC — a yearlong advocacy and fundraising initiative highlighting the value that study abroad brings to students. From stepping outside their comfort zone while abroad to landing their dream career, international education opens doors to new and greater opportunities and creates global citizens, ready to engage with our increasingly interconnected world.
Every USAC alumni has a unique story. From traveling solo as a woman in Italy to finding queer community in Thailand, students discover new interests, meet new people, learn languages, and achieve immense personal growth while studying abroad. THE Study Abroad POD highlights student stories in their own voices through conversational chats.
From a study abroad experience in Torino, Italy to opening an Italian restaurant in Nevada, Tim Magee is a premier example of the value that study abroad can bring.
While studying at the University of Nevada, Reno, a friend encouraged Tim Magee to spend a semester in Torino, Italy. He expected an opportunity to improve his Italian, travel, and experience another culture. He didn’t expect it to change the course of his life, but that’s just what happened.
While studying abroad, Tim made local friends, learned from professors with international experience, and discovered a love of authentic Italian cuisine and culture, especially the way food brought people together. After returning to Reno, he couldn’t stop thinking about going back. A year later, he returned to Italy, where he spent nearly 15 years building a culinary career, meeting his wife, raising a family, and opening a restaurant.
The impact on Tim’s life went far beyond his career. He credits studying abroad with making travel less intimidating, helping him become more comfortable connecting with people from different backgrounds, and teaching him to see that there can be many sides to the same story. Those skills still shape how he works with colleagues and guests from around the world today.
“[USAC] fundamentally changed me as a person,” Tim said. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime decision — that first day getting on the airplane changed everything.”
Long after students return home, the impact of study abroad continues to shape their lives. From building career-ready skills to fostering personal growth and intercultural understanding, international education offers lasting value at every stage of a student's journey. Here are a few examples.
Career advancement
Students who study abroad have a resume that stands out from other applicants, as well as professional confidence and global workplace skills.
Workforce readiness
Adaptability, communication, critical thinking, problem solving... these are all soft skills that employers look for, and study abroad is a great way to gain them.
Academic growth
Regardless of their major and courses taken abroad, students gain a global perspective through authentic cultural immersion. Because they learn through daily application, they become subject matter experts with unique opinions and points of view.
Personal development
When students tell us, “study abroad was life-changing,” they're often referring to their personal growth. Traits like independence, confidence, resilience, and cultural awareness are gained daily in the background of a study abroad as students learn to live, study, and communicate in a new place.
Global citizenship
As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, having global citizens capable of cross-cultural understanding, community engagement, and empathy and collaboration is pivotal. What better way to learn these skills than through a study abroad experience?
Lifelong relationships
Students who study abroad return home with much more than coursework for their transcript. The international friendships, professional networks, and connections made with other alumni provide value long after the experience ends — and often opens the door to countless opportunities.
Sometimes, the outcome of studying abroad is completely unexpected — which is exactly what Aiden and Jum discovered. For Aiden, studying in Italy gave him real-world experience and allowed him to land a dream marketing internship. For Jum, now the USAC Chiang Mai, Thailand Resident Director (RD), her study abroad led to a swoon-worthy love story.
Aiden’s study abroad in Viterbo, Italy did more than immerse him in a new culture, provide language exposure, and build soft skills to add to his resume — it led to him securing a marketing internship. The tangible industry experience he gained from courses and field trips abroad proved to employers that he would be the smart choice.
When Chaidarun “Jum” Tippawan headed to Sweden to study abroad, meeting her husband wasn’t part of her degree path. Through a series of rom-com-style interactions, Jum and Chai grew to know each other better. Today, they live in Thailand with their son, who even has a special nickname related to how they met.
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