Study abroad enrollment trumps other state school numbers

During the 2013 fall semester, Rachel Mihulka got a first-hand history lesson focused on Italy by learning about its history in the place where it actually happened.

“Instead of being in a classroom, my Rome Through the Ages lectures were in the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon,”Mihulka said.

Mihulka, a senior majoring in Contemporary Media & Journalism, went to Roma soccer games, tasted wine in the hills of Tuscany and took cooking classes while in Italy. Studying abroad allowed her unique experiences like these to become a reality.

Mihulka said she was amazed at how well she adapted to living in a different county.

“To me, there was something really exciting about being thrown into one of the most famous cities in the world, not knowing how to speak the language and thriving,” she said.

The University of South Dakota’s study abroad program is looking to expand the amount of students who travel abroad, while also broadening students’ knowledge of the experiences they can gain from it.

Anthony Mandela, a Global Learning adviser, said the number of students who study abroad is expected to increase this year from the 212 students during the 2013-14 school year.

“We’re seeing quite a few more applications coming in,” Mandela said. “I anticipate higher numbers for this year.”

But the department is looking for an even larger amount.

“A long-term goal of ours is to double study abroad numbers,” Mandela said.

Other state schools report numbers less than USD’s.

According to the South Dakota Board of Regents’ International Activities annual report, Northern State University had 70 students study abroad during the 2013-2014 year. Dakota State University reported 25 out of 3,129 students who traveled abroad between 2012 and 2013. At South Dakota State University, roughly 1.5 percent of its students study abroad each year.

[notification type=”grey” title=”By the numbers”]Black Hills State University had six students out of 4,464 study abroad in 2012 the report said. South Dakota School of Mines International Activities Report for the 2013-2014 year showed 82 out of 2,640 students studied abroad.[/notification]

“Over the past 10 years, SDSU’s average of students who go abroad each year is around 200,” said Briana Litz, SDSU’s study abroad adviser.

Although USD tops the other schools’ numbers, Mandela said the department’s plans to increase figures include a revamped marketing effort.

“We have rebranded all of our social media pages so that we can better connect with students,” he said.

Students have the opportunity to learn more about the university’s study abroad program by attending various campus events.

“We hold multiple information sessions every week. They answer frequently asked questions that all students have about studying abroad,” Mandela said. “There are a number of workshops on campus as well.”

Ian Williams, a senior economics major who studied finances and the Japanese language while in Japan, was surprised at the societal differences between the two countries.

“It was kind of crazy just to see the cultural differences in general,” Williams said. “Before I went I had an image of Japan as sort of technologically advanced and very ‘21st century,’ but then I got there, and socially, Japan is very 1950s where everyone is smoking and most women work at home.”

Scholarships are available to offset some of the expenses of foreign studies. Williams received the Jasso Scholarship, a government scholarship awarded to international students studying at a Japanese university for a period of no longer than a year.

“I received $800 dollars that was sent to my bank account every month,” Williams said.

For Mihulka, having experiences abroad look good on a resumé, so it was an easy decision to make.

“Why not get the experiences every employer looks for, while also having the experience of a lifetime?” Mihulka said.

Aside from the books and jobs, living in another country exposes people to situations they would not have gotten at home.

While in Ireland, Kate Turner, a senior media and journalism major, came across a ‘gentleman’s club’ that videotaped fish getting caught in nets the men had laid out.

“They could set up their nets early in the morning and then sit inside and watch them get caught,” said Turner, who was the advertising manager for The Volante last semester. “That’s it. That was the entire club,” she said.

Turner and her friends met a 90-year-old Irishman who was part of the club.

“He told us about his life, and how he is too old to get in the water, but he watches and stands with a single fishing pole and greets people as they walk by,” she said.

At the club, Turner not only made an unexpected friend but also gained some perspective, she said.

“He told me ‘Don’t stop living like a young kid,'” Turner said.

Through her experiences, Turner gained knowledge about herself and what she is capable of.

“I’ve come back a stronger person because of my experience, and I now have the mind set that I could take on any challenge.” Turner said. “When you study abroad, you tend to find yourself. You rely solely on yourself, and that for most, is something that is foreign.”

(Photo: While in Rome, senior Rachel Mihulka was able to attend a class lecture at the Roman Forum.  Submitted Photo / The Volante)