BU held their first Education Abroad Fair since January 2020.
For the first time since January 2020, Binghamton University held its annual Education Abroad Fair in person at the Old Champlain Atrium.
Study abroad programs offer students opportunities to experience different cultures while earning credits that count toward their degree. Within the past two years, COVID-19 has shrunk opportunities to study abroad due to a temporary hiatus placed on SUNY institutions in early 2020. With the easing of pandemic restrictions, programs are beginning to reopen.
Linda Torricelli, coordinator of education abroad, said she was ready for the reopening of these programs.
“With the support of our University administration and the continued dedication of our team and our students, we were able to resume a select number of programs for the Spring 2022 and Summer 2022 semesters,” Torricelli wrote in an email. “At this time, almost all 50+ education abroad programs in [BU] are planned to be developed for the 2022-2023 school year.”
According to a late 2019 study, 16 percent of American graduate students participate in study abroad programs. In a typical, non-pandemic year, over 500 BU students will study abroad — providing a huge boost to students’ resumes and skills, according to Torricelli.
At the Education Abroad Fair, representatives of students who had studied in different parts of Europe, Asia and Latin America came to the table to discuss their experiences. In addition, faculty members from the department’s advising offices were stationed at the back of the room to answer any questions students may have had about their specific major.
One student present at the fair was Antonio Ferrer, a senior majoring in history. Ferrer described his motivations for studying last summer in Tuscania, Italy, which Torricelli said has historically been the most popular study abroad destination for Binghamton students.
“I’ve traveled to Italy a lot in the past,” Ferrer said. “I wanted to push myself to really learn the language and perfect it, and I realized that the environment was more conducive to it [my goals]. I also wanted a more authentic experience of Italy – I didn’t want to go to a tourist town.”
For certain destinations, the COVID-19 restrictions have made the process a bit more complicated. Noa Pitkowsky, a senior majoring in Judaic studies, was in Israel last year for her semester abroad.
“[COVID-19] was definitely a factor when deciding to study abroad, and throughout the process,” Pitkowsky wrote. “There were a lot of travel restrictions in place and I didn’t know until a few weeks before the semester started if I would be able to study abroad There were some limitations that I would have as well [had] if I were in Binghamton.”
Some students use education abroad as an opportunity to connect with their cultural heritage.
Among them is Benjamin Wolf, a senior in economics who was in Barcelona this summer.
“A big part of my family lives in Mexico,” Wolf said. “I’ve always had an affinity for Latin American culture, but not real Iberian/Hispanic culture. I wanted to experience Spain to be able to immerse myself in it.”
Torricelli emphasized that students in schools such as the School of Management and the Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science also have opportunities with education abroad.
“The [Office of International Education and Global Initiatives] has partnered with various departments to develop specific key resources for students, and we are working to add more,” Torricelli wrote. “Students of all majors are encouraged to use our advanced program search, which allows you to identify programs that offer courses in a particular field of study.”
Wolf also provided a pitch for students considering studying abroad.
“I would absolutely recommend doing it,” Wolf said. “If you go to the study abroad office, they can definitely help you. For people who are concerned about costs, there are exchange programs where you simply pay [BU] schooling. It’s also great if you want to broaden your horizons of the world in general and gain a better understanding of a particular culture.”
