Do you wish to pursue your education involving more exposure, overall personality development while experiencing a different environment? Do you want to broaden your social horizons while learning a variety of new skills? If your answer to the above questions is yes, or even may be, a student exchange program might be beneficial for you!
A student exchange program simply means a program wherein students apply to study abroad, after completion of their high school (or university), at one of their high school’s partner institutions. It may involve international travel also but it is not always mandatory that the student is required to study outside their country.
These student exchange programs provide a wide range of opportunities, a new environment, dealing with new people, and many other benefits. The top reasons why you should consider to go on a student exchange program:
Experiencing a whole new culture
Even moving out of your own city, or your own house is in itself a life-changing experience; let alone moving out from your country. Whatever the country may be, you will get to experience a whole new culture and new traditions if you pursue your higher education there. One widens their perspectives, way of thinking while living with new people or facing certain situations on their own. In school, we are quite dependent on our parents or guardians for almost everything. This is, in fact, a great way to challenge yourself, to push yourself to learn new customs, while expanding your scope of learning. Most of the time, people discover so much about themselves, the facts they could never realise if they had stayed confined to their own space, in their comfort levels.
Adapting to new situations
When you know there are people around that you can entirely rely on or depend on for even basic needs, you become lethargic. Lethargic to responsibilities, lazy to find solutions to your own problems. On the contrary, when you ‘have to’ face situations all on your own, when you have no other option, that is the time when real growth happens. Overall personality development is just another name for this much needed growth. You learn to adapt to new conditions, some of which you did not even know existed. Not just professionally, this is required in all aspects of life, otherwise.
Greater employment opportunities
As much as studying abroad helps shape your personality, it equally supports your career growth. It is very evident that it expands your perspectives, and generates greater job opportunities. Employers and recruiters, often, prefer students with international experience which is indirectly linked to the facts mentioned above, about individual development, rather than just a degree. Employers understand that students who have confronted new situations on their own, who have experienced a whole new country, have obviously learned new ways of living and are very well efficient problem solvers. This gives rise to better job opportunities in each and every industry, for skilled degree holders.
Also Read: 7 Student exchange opportunities with Chitkara University
Learning new language(s)
Studying in a new country just adds up to another excuse if you are someone who always wanted to learn a new language. To adapt to the new country’s situations and to get along with the people there, learning a new language not only helps you gain a new skill but also builds confidence. Moreover, it proves to be useful while you apply for jobs after completing your education, because a new language on your resume just increases your chances of getting shortlisted. Also, this opens up even greater employment opportunities, for now you can apply specifically to those jobs also wherein the new language is a required skill.
Lower cost
Student exchange programs cost much less than studying abroad otherwise. Students can get the experience of lifestyle and education abroad without burning a hole in their pockets by opting for exchange programs. Low cost is one of the most tempting features, for obvious reasons.
Life long bonds
While learning to settle down in a whole new country, students often find themselves among friends and peers who are going through the same experience. Some seniors might help them sort out their problems (if any) and they will be helping their juniors in the long run. This builds friendships and sometimes, life long bonds which not only help in the personal development of an individual but also supports career growth. Not all students will work in the same country after the completion of their courses, thereby giving and receiving advice about different job opportunities all around the world.
As is evident, student exchange programs will not only cost you less, but also help you develop your individual personality in ways one can not even imagine. All this is directly or indirectly linked to shaping your life and career in the long run.
One of the most reputed universities, Chitkara University has partnered with other colleges and universities globally, for student exchange programs. This way, their students gain the much needed exposure which gives rise to new opportunities and great life experiences. Some of the noteworthy features of this program by Chitkara University include research cooperation, dual degree, twinning program developments by their partners, international faculty exchange. All of these prove the “Strong International Focus” of this university.
