Graduate programs allow students to gain international experience

Graduate programs allow students to gain international experience

Students who would like to travel while they obtain a degree may find there are some schools that provide programs that include international elements.

Virginia Tech's (VT) Global Perspectives Program is one initiative that allows graduate students to travel to other countries. Current enrollees recently returned from Switzerland and Italy, where they they spent time studying.

The VT students were also among seven individuals who attend a university in Switzerland. Together, they discussed challenges that face higher education. Although the Global Perspectives program was established five years ago, it was the first time students from another country had also participated.

Graduate students in this program were also involved with various kinds of training that aimed to help them understand educational approaches on an international level.

David Kniola, assistant director at VT, said that this program "enables graduate students to examine differences in academic practices worldwide" and develop new ways that "foster international awareness and education."

Graduate students may find other schools which offer similar campus-based or online programs can lead to several job opportunities, including those within the education industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for post-secondary teachers will increase by more than 15 percent over the next eight years.

By Stephanie Hughes