A poster encouraging students to study abroad outside of Plassmann Hall
Steven Stutz / The Bona Venture
stutzsa20@bonaventure.edu
BY: TANNER PASI
The study abroad program at St. Bonaventure University enables students to take their studies all over the world. Through the summer programs, students can travel to Oxford, Italy and Spain. Once the summer programs to study in Japan and China are reinstated, students will also be able to take their educational journeys to those countries as well. If a student chooses to spend a semester abroad, they could end up in Argentina, France, Germany and many other countries.
“The important part about it [studying abroad] is being able to open your mind to different people, different cultures, different systems, different everything. But more than that, its about being able to push yourself and open yourself to the unknown … and evolving yourself,” said Johnathan Mascaut, the coordinator of international student services at Bonaventure.
The benefits of studying abroad extend beyond personal and academic growth. Even after graduation their experiences can prove useful, as studying abroad also enhances a student’s job resume, as Mascaut comments:
“You might be following the same courses that you would be taking here at Bonaventure, but … you’ll be the one that has to adapt and that makes a big difference right there. Overall in the world, having that study abroad experience on your resume kind of means and signifies that you’ve got a better understanding; a better, bigger broader perspective of the world,” Mascaut said.
Even though studying abroad may seem invaluable for any student, the cost of studying abroad acts as a major deterrent for those wanting to study overseas.
As Mascaut notes, “Studying abroad is not cheap, and for a lot of students, that is definitely the first barrier…seeing the amount that it would cost for them to do that.”
To counter this dilemma, Bonaventure has forged a new partnership with Academic Programs International, which is a group committed to providing students with more educational opportunities. Mascaut believes that working with API will not just help students financially, but improve the quality of the studying abroad program as a whole.
“We’re really excited with them because they seem to be very responsive and very in touch with what students need … You must be able to really be in tune with what the student needs so that your program is successful,” said Mascaut.
Through partnering with API, Mascaut believes that the program will evolve in several ways. One of the ways API caters to the needs of students is by making programs more affordable.
“One part that we’re really excited about is the scholarships … They’re very dedicated to offering the opportunity to study abroad to more people that might be turned off because of cost,” said Mascaut.
API will also provide Bonaventure students with assistance that goes beyond financial support.
“They’re creating a system of badges that you gain with skills and things you learned while studying abroad … They would also seamlessly transfer to your LinkedIn which is a really good way to just kind of close the loop of the whole work experience,” said Mascaut.
Mascaut hopes that by partnering with API, new programs can be created that are specific to Bonaventure and expand the opportunities students have in studying abroad.
“We’re really interested in tapping in a little bit on our specific mission and our Franciscan identity and trying to see if there might be some study abroad experiences we can do with this,” said Mascaut.
Through partnering with API, the reach and scope of the studying abroad program should improve. API’s services will allow the studying abroad program to benefit students beyond just earning college credits. Thanks to API, the toolbelt of Bonaventure’s studying abroad will soon increase in its versatility.
pasita22@bonaventure.edu
