University of North Carolina expands study

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's College of Arts & Sciences now offers more than 330 study abroad programs in 70 countries. According to the university, nearly one-third of students in the college complete an academic program abroad for credit before they graduate, a figure that has almost doubled since the year 2000.

Bob Miles, the recently retired associate dean for study abroad and international exchanges, arrived at Carolina in 2000 as the Study Abroad Office's first full-time director. He oversaw a shift from individual, language-based program offerings to a comprehensive structure aligned with the university's academic objectives. We provide academic opportunities abroad that are consistent with the academic standards on this campus and that are of a quality appropriate for a Research I university, Miles said.

Program growth and destinations

Early on, most students who studied abroad concentrated on Western Europe. That has changed dramatically. The number of students studying in Asia, for example, has increased from about 15 in 2000 to some 250 a year today. Language and social science programs in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America are also expanding.

To help students overcome financial challenges, donors have funded new scholarships. More funding is needed to meet Dean Kevin Guskiewicz's goal of increasing the number of Carolina students studying abroad to 50 percent over the next decade. Raising money for study abroad scholarships is a major priority as the university launches a comprehensive campaign this fall.

The Study Abroad Office helps students handle the process with campus partners like Scholarships and Student Aid and Academic Advising. Staff steer students toward programs that complement their academic interests. "We are a resource for any problems that arise while the students are abroad," Miles explained.

Student experiences abroad

Amanda Davis, a senior majoring in linguistics, had never flown on a plane before her 24-hour flight to Sydney, Australia. Over four months, she took courses in Aboriginal Australian languages, child languages, the philosophy of happiness, and the fundamentals of glass blowing. Outside the classroom, she assisted with speech and voice research, including work on an app for kids with speech disorders.

Aided by financial support from the Jan & Steve Capps Study Abroad Fund, Davis traveled around Sydney and Melbourne and took a solo trip to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef. "That was the absolute highlight of my time in Australia. It was incredible!" she said. She advises other students to step out of their comfort zone. There is so much growth in meeting new people, and they become lifelong friends.

Scott Diekema, a junior, participated in the 2017 Summer in India program as one of Carolina's Phillips Ambassadors, a privately funded scholarship program supporting study in Asia. His study included three courses: 'Contested Souls,' which explored Indian literature and culture; 'Journalism and Society in India'; and 'Hindi Conversation and Script.'

Thanks to amazing UNC professors, I learned a ton about the nuances of India's rich history and culture, Diekema said. After the program ended, he stayed in Delhi for an eight-week internship as a research assistant for the Just Jobs Network, a private think tank.

Shruti Patel participated in the six-week Science in Scandinavia program at Lund University in Sweden. The program, which included courses in analytical chemistry, physics, and the history of science, helped her realize she wanted to pursue a career in science policy rather than laboratory research.

Patel said the experience taught her that science is a global endeavor. She plans to display a signed postcard from Lund alongside other international memorabilia on her wall.