The number of students opting to sign up for degree programs in foreign countries is on the rise. Many students choose to enroll for studies in foreign countries citing different reasons as the probable motivators.
In the past, many students opted to sign up for degree programs in local colleges because of the language barrier and financial problems. However, globalization made it possible for people to move from one country to another prompting people to go out and explore.
Interaction between countries fostered exchange programs in the education field (Burkart, Hexter and Thompson 35). A country can now send its students to study in a different country while the latter sends its students to the former.
Today, American students prefer to study in foreign countries, even if it is for a short duration. On the other hand, students from other countries prefer pursuing their degree programs in the United States. Probably, numerous reasons are leading to the current changes in study behavior. This paper will discuss some of the factors that possibly lead to the current changes in study behavior.
Students cite different factors as the main reasons why they opt to sign up for studies in foreign countries. One of the factors that probably contribute to students preferring to go for studies in foreign countries is employment opportunities (Burkart, Hexter and Thompson 37). Majority of students from developing countries believe that there are many job opportunities in foreign countries, especially in developed states.
Consequently, it is rational to suppose that, the urge to work in these countries is what prompts them to register for studies in the countries. Conventionally, it is hard for an individual to get a job in a foreign country because of rigorous documentation and scrutiny. Nevertheless, to enroll for studies in a foreign country does not require a lot of scrutiny. Perhaps, students use education as the avenue to help those secure jobs in foreign countries.
Majority of the British students who study in America claim that employment opportunities in the United States are what motivate them to study in the country. British students like working with multinational companies. Hence, they require studying in foreign countries to enhance their experience.
Burkart, Hexter, and Thompson posit, “British students have a more utilitarian attitude towards overseas study” (38). The students believe that it is only by studying in overseas countries that they would be competitive in the job market. Probably, the aspirations to enhance their experience and to make sure that they distinguish themselves from others are what lead to the majority of British students studying in the United States.
American students also perceive studying in a foreign country as an opportunity to establish a worldwide career. Therefore, it is practical to assert that, the need to nurture a global career is one of the factors that prompt majority of the American students to study in countries like Britain.
Many American students argue that studying in Britain helps to affix non-academic strengths in their resumes. Studying in foreign countries assists the students to nurture flexible skills, hence, giving them an upper hand in the job market.
Majority of the Americans like to tour and discover different cultures (Carlson et al. 32). This accentuates the reason why many tourists come from the United States. For the American students, it would be hard to raise enough money to help them travel and explore other cultures in foreign countries. Fortunately, while studying in the foreign countries, they would have an opportunity to explore these cultures at a lower cost.
Conceivably, the desire to travel and explore different cultures is another factor that motivates the majority of the American students to seek short-term studies in foreign countries. Many American students do not consider intellectual qualification and hope for jobs as the main factors that encourage them to study abroad (Carlson et al. 36).
Instead, they consider studying abroad as a great opportunity to learn about other cultures, as well as, visit historical sites in the countries. This highlights the reason why the American students yearn to study in foreign countries even if it is for a single semester or for a year.
Students seeking to work in international companies face a language barrier as one of the challenges when dealing with employees. Many students fail to secure jobs in international companies due to poor language skills. Probably, this answers the question why many British students struggle to sign up for degree programs in foreign countries.
The students get sufficient time to work on their language skills through taking their degree programs in foreign countries. Improving language skills helps students to associate with people from sundry cultural backgrounds. Accordingly, students with diverse language skills fit in different employment positions (Carlson et al. 51).
The needs to improve language skills and to work in international companies are probably, some of the factors that motivate many British students to sign up for degree programs in foreign countries. Enrolling for degree programs in foreign countries gives students adequate time to secure jobs in these countries and to gain skills that could help them work in international countries.
On the other hand, pine for exploring different cultures and visiting historical sites are probably some of the factors that motivate the American students to study in foreign countries for at least a year or semester.
Works Cited
Burkart, Barbara, Holly Hexter and Donna Thompson. “Why TRIO students need to study abroad!” Opportunity Outlook Journal Reprint 1.1 (2001): 34-38. Print.
Carlson, Jerry, Barbara Burn, John Useem and David Yachimowicz. Study abroad: The experience of American undergraduates. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2007. Print.