Studying abroad is gaining popularity due to numerous education and career benefits. It is generally believed that studying in a foreign country will boost your skills and help improve your chances of a successful career. And a report by the Institute of International Education (IIE) has provided evidence that studying abroad does, in fact, helps you learn employability skills.
IIE’s study, Gaining an Employment Edge: The Impact of Study Abroad on 21st Century Skills and Career Prospects, draws a connection between study abroad programs and skill development and affirms that international students are more employable in today’s workspace.
According to the report, common workplace skills developed with education abroad are communication, flexibility, and adaptability, problem-solving skills, self-confidence, international exposure, language, and self-awareness, to name a few. International students have also mentioned that studying abroad experience has broadened their horizons, making them ambitious and more career-oriented.
Thus, there is no denying that studying abroad is one of the effective ways in which students can upskill themselves and build successful careers. Here, let’s look at the skills you acquire while studying in a foreign country.
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International exposure: International universities promote diversity by recruiting students from all corners of the world thus exposing students to multiple nationalities. This exposure can be quite rewarding in terms of developing a broader understanding of people, cultures, customs, and situations. Many employers prefer graduates with international exposure as they are better equipped to work in diverse teams.
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Language and communication skills: Several scientific studies have found that being multilingual improves decision-making and attention span. Also, communication is the most prized soft skill that employers desire. If you have pursued education abroad, it is evident that you are better at efficiently conveying your ideas, making you desirable to multinational companies.
Adaptability: Moving to a new country comes with its set of challenges. It pushes you to function outside your comfort zone. Making the most of this opportunity and overcoming the challenges of this shift strengthen your ability to adapt. Adaptability helps you respond quickly to changing responsibilities, targets, ideas, trends, strategies, etc.
Networking: While studying abroad, you build a global network that helps you seek opportunities beyond geographical boundaries. Your university will be composed of students and alums from various countries and backgrounds, allowing you to widen your network.
Problem-solving: From dealing with the move, buying groceries on a budget, figuring out local travel routes to discovering new interests, studying abroad can be a steep learning curve that will teach you to be a problem solver. When you oversee everything, you learn to weigh up difficulties better, analyze issues and find creative solutions. All workplaces need problem-solvers who are ready to take on any challenge.
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Confidence: You will have to deal with all kinds of people and situations on your own while studying abroad. You will learn valuable personal and professional lessons that will boost your confidence and make you self-reliant and resilient. It is essential to have this skill if you want to become a successful professional.
Holistic personality development: Navigating life in a new country undoubtedly changes your preconceived notions about yourself or life, leading to your holistic personality development. It allows you to reinvent yourself and be open to new experiences that lead to personal and professional growth.
Other than these, teamwork, leadership skills, intercultural skills, work ethics, etc. are other skills that you improve by studying abroad. Thus, we can say that studying abroad is not only about making your resume better but also making yourself better with workable skills.
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(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)
