Education Abroad Fair is One-Stop-Shop for Information on International Education

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 12, 2012) — The Fall 2012 Education Abroad Fair will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, Wednesday, Sept. 12, in the Student Center Grand Ballroom.

The fair will showcase multiple different avenues for UK students to gain international experience across all five branches of education abroad programs: study abroad, research abroad, international internships, service learning abroad  and teaching abroad. Though the event is held annually, this year's fair aims to engage students more than ever, amplifying the excitement through a photo-booth in which students can take destination-themes photos and share them with their friends.

Promotion and Outreach Coordinator at Education Abroad Seth Riker said that while the fair aims to relay the exciting opportunities that UK offers in international education, students should nonetheless come to the fair with academic and career goals in mind. 

"While it is very easy to get caught up in the excitement of fun trips & foreign places, students should recognize that Education Abroad at UK is not a travel agency," Riker said. "Students who chose an EA program should do so because they see it as an investment in their education, not because they want a vacation."

Riker said that this “vacation mentality” only perpetuates the myth that education abroad programs are expensive, frivolous and delay graduation, when in fact, Education Abroad staff members work with students to plan coursework in a manner that maintains or accelerates the student's path to graduation.

The fair will also provide resources for combatting financial burdens; the Office of External Scholarships and the Office of Student Financial Aid will manage booths at the fair to assist students in planning their education abroad experiences, and hold an information session at 1:30 p.m. The amount of money available through scholarships has nearly doubled in recent years.

The fair will also unite third-party education abroad partners, UK faculty-sponsored programs and other offices on campus that aide students in pursuing education abroad — offices like the J. Stuckert Career Center and the Wildcard UK ID Center, which, as a passport application agency, can help students begin the process of acquiring a passport.

Students can also learn about exchange programs and consortia programs, such as those offered through the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS).

The Education Abroad office will manage a table as well, staffed with student peer ambassadors. These student spokespeople for education abroad will answer general questions and advise their peers about international options.

Riker said that the overall goals of the fair are to showcase the variety of education abroad options and to help students determine the program that best aligns with their academic and professional pursuits.

"Above all, I hope that every student on this campus knows there’s an international opportunity within their reach — if they’re willing to put in the time and effort," Riker said. "I myself was a first generation college student on a PELL Grant. So I understand that even a normal college experience can seem daunting, let alone an international one.  Yet, I could not be happier that I took a risk and stepped out of my comfort zone. The best part about it — now I get to support others like me as they break the mold and gain a whole new appreciation for the world in which they live."

For more information on education abroad, click here.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sarah Geegan, (859)257-5365; sarah.geegan@uky.edu