Relocating your life to enroll in new educational opportunities can be daunting, particularly when moving abroad. Although international students face significant challenges, like large tuition fees and language barriers, the long-term benefits of overseas education are invaluable.
Continue reading as we uncover the power of international education on professional prospects by describing five advantages and how they’ll make you a competitive candidate.
What Is International Education?
Our minds typically picture the top-100 ranking universities when defining international education. As a student, the financial, academic, and geographical constraints may portray this as an inaccessible option, but not all international education has to be difficult.
International education refers to any institute that provides overseas education, whether a boarding school for high-school students or a college for adults 18 to 19 and over. For example, the International Baccalaureate (IB) entails an in-depth study of English, mathematics, science, languages, and the arts.
Meanwhile, colleges offer specialized learning. For instance, the University of Birmingham specializes in engineering with opportunities to study at its Dubai-based campus. Others offer a year abroad to gain new perspectives.
Many institutes, such as Candor International School, offer scholarly options to support and encourage international students.
How Can International Education Help Your Career?
Learn more about the positive impact of international education below:
Access to a Dynamic Learning Environment
Boards like the International Schools Services partner with institutes to enhance security protocols. Safeguarding and protection, such as through modern campus security systems and emergency response strategies, ensure schools can maintain a dynamic learning environment.
Mitigating risks like damage or unauthorized access fosters deeper concentration, allowing you to further explore your skills and career paths. Top-tier security will enable institutes to invest in industry-standard equipment, such as 3D printing, design software, or laboratory tools.
Getting experience with these tools gives you better preparation for career prospects, as you’ll need less training – a quality some employers find attractive in recruits.
Appealing Academic Excellence
Academic excellence is your ability to achieve excellent grades and participate in scholarly activities for extra-curricular learning. Employers sometimes define excellence by grade level and institute prestige.
So, why does a college’s reputation matter?
In 2020, the IIE identified a report showing that out of 13,000 recruiting managers, 67% considered international education vital. They value this experience because IB teaching schools expose students to higher-level and varying challenges, building strong skill foundations from an early development stage.
Similarly, overseas universities, such as those in the U.S. Ivy League or U.K Russell Group, provide more thorough teaching, testing, and practical activities. This level of education enables you to strengthen niche technical skills, so you’re more equipped for professional environments.
Displaying international education on your resume could give you a competitive advantage over other candidates applying for the same career opportunities.
Connections to a Global Network
Extending your education globally increases your chances of forming an international network. You’ll have access to a broader range of partnerships for opportunities like internships, work experience days, or events.
These placements will enable you to build rapport with industry members, who’ll share invaluable advice about entering your desired industry.
While professional relationships open opportunities for full-time work, you’ll also build an impressive reference list, giving you a further advantage over competitors without these testimonials.
After graduation, universities will recognize you as alumni, further expanding your pool of possible contacts. You’ll receive post-graduate support identifying opportunities to gain more professional experience. Some institutes might invite you to return and speak at events, enriching your professional achievements.
Enhanced Interpersonal Skills
Studying abroad enables you to immerse yourself in another culture and lifestyle. You’ll understand how to treat people with different values and practices with respect, helping you build and sustain strong relations.
Research from 2021 shows that cross-cultural awareness and communication are key for employers navigating globalization and achieving interconnectedness. Developing this skill will help you share unique insights on different markets and how to form partnerships, enabling employers to expand.
Fluency in Other Languages
International schools have comprehensive language acquisition opportunities—for example, the IB mandates studying a language like French, German, or Mandarin. You’ll also develop fluency in the domestic language where your institute is based if there’s a barrier.
Networking will become easier as you can communicate with a broader group, helping you discuss prospective career opportunities or collaborations.
Language fluency also elevates your resume, as employers could trust you to liaise with international clients and colleagues, streamlining their internal and external communications. Learning a new language can be challenging, so you’ll display adaptability and resilience, too.
Summary
International educational achievements are incredibly unique. They represent a high level of education, exposure to new environments, and display of resilience.
Global study introduces you to new networks of people where you can foster strong professional relationships and identify opportunities beyond education.
An international learning journey will help you develop unique competitive advantages when applying for career opportunities. Practice with industry-level equipment, ability to operate in cross-cultural environments, and high-level skills are a few qualities employers favor.
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