UK Director Redefines Study Abroad

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 7, 2011) − Education Abroad has taken on new and mindful meaning at the University of Kentucky, as a result of UK Education Abroad Director Anthony Ogden's unique and timely vision.

"It’s not about where you want to go," Ogden said. "It’s about what you want to do. Education abroad at UK now includes study abroad, research abroad and intern abroad.  Of course, there are many students who teach abroad and do service learning, too.”

Rather than choose a location first, Ogden wants students to consider their academic interests and career goals when researching education abroad opportunities.

"What is your major, and what do you want to do?" asked Ogden. "It might be easier to say, 'where do you want to go?' but that doesn't make sense. This is not about travel."

That's not to say that Ogden doesn't advocate the age-old Grand Tour. "Travel and excitement come with education abroad, no matter where you go and what you do," he said. "But it's a waste of money for students during school, if they don’t pursue opportunities that allow them to extend what they are studying here at UK and to pursue experiences that will allow them to develop new knowledge and skills that will serve them well in their careers."

Ogden has also made the process of choosing an education abroad program less stressful for students by featuring fewer programs.

"We've actually cut the number of programs to 600 from around 4,000," he said. "Students were choosing a destination and then going to the top of the list. Now, we have fewer programs that better align with our academic mission."

And Ogden's Education Abroad advisers know these programs inside and out. "We can't help students make good decisions without strategy," he said. "As educators, that's our job. We are here to help students find the right academic fit."

After time abroad and at Pennsylvania State University, Ogden returned home to Kentucky last year to focus on supporting UK students to have the most enjoyable and meaningful international experiences possible, and his plan seems to be working.

UK's Education Abroad participation is growing, in spite of an overall decrease nationally in education abroad participation.

"We're most likely going to reach our 2014 goal this year of having 800 students abroad this year," Ogden said. "And this is due in large part to the growing support and engagement of UK’s faculty and administration."