The Virginia Tidewater Regional International Project - Helping Students Gain an International Perspective

Studying abroad can help students learn about other cultures and earn credits toward a degree. Many students choose to study abroad to practice speaking a foreign language. When a student applies for a job, he will have an advantage if he has studied abroad. Because most large companies that do sales leads do business all over the world, they will want to hire employees who have lived abroad. The Virginia Tidewater Regional International Project is working with colleges and universities overseas to facilitate study abroad programs. Students who study abroad can gain an appreciation for other cultures in addition to pursuing scholarly interests.

Studies have shown that the only way to become fluent in a foreign language is to go live in a country where the language is spoken. It takes an adult an average of ten years to achieve fluency in a foreign language. Many good jobs demand proficiency in more than one language. When a student can claim he is bilingual, he will stand out from the rest of the applicants. The members who are working on the Virginia Tidewater Regional International Project seek to provide a cost effective way for students to study abroad for at least one semester.

With the added plus of sales, an international studies program can help a college or university attract donors. Scholarships can be established to help pay for students who want to study abroad. However, a student may be able to get quick loans bad credit would otherwise limit. Colleges and universities can reach out to the community and let everyone know that they have a multi-cultural studies program. Students can participate in the Virginia Tidewater Regional International Project and complete scholarly research in their discipline. For example, if a student wanted to research literature written by an obscure South American author, he would have the opportunity to look for original writings or archives in a library in the author's country.

Many students may believe that studying abroad will cost too much. This may prevent many students from applying to a study abroad program. Students need to know how to apply for scholarships and financial aid so that they can experience living in another country for a semester. Studies have shown that students who study abroad are likely to graduate with a high cumulative GPA. Because the internet has made the world a global marketplace, students who are familiar with other cultures will be more successful in their careers. The Virginia Tidewater Regional International Project seeks to provide opportunities for students to expand their horizons while pursuing their academic studies.