Last week, the Office of International Programs held a fair at Babbio Center to provide information about the upcoming programs available for students as well as about the process of applying to these programs. The Stute got the chance to speak with Susi Rachouh, the Director of International Programs, to learn more about the exciting programs that are being offered, how to get involved, and the value of studying abroad.
In her role as Director of International Programs, Rachouh is in charge of several different areas. These include studying abroad for undergraduate students (unfortunately, Stevens does not offer abroad credit for graduate students), outreach for international undergraduate programs, contracts and legal agreements for undergraduate students, and exchange programs. Currently, Stevens has seven different exchange programs, such as Global E3, which is for engineering and computer science majors.
When asked which programs she was most excited about, Rachouh noted that Italy has become a very popular destination. She explained that the current cities Stevens has available are Milan, Florence, Sorento, Rome, and Syracuse (which is in Sicily). Rachouh then shared that a new program that is becoming a popular destination for American vacations is Portugal. Other programs that she is excited about are HEX, which is mainly for business students located in both Melbourne and Singapore and ESports in Seoul, South Korea.
Studying abroad is a big commitment, but Rachouh lists many reasons why it is an extremely valuable experience. Rachouh believes that because Stevens is a very academically rigorous school, many STEM students can’t manage or find the time to study abroad; Therefore, the experience looks considerably impressive on a resume. For this reason, the Office of International Programs has made a strong effort to make their programs flexible enough to allow STEM students to participate. Rachouh then discusses how studying abroad can improve many skills that can be used both in one’s personal and professional life, such as flexibility, confidence, tolerance for uncertainty, working with people who have cultural differences, and global competence. The last skill she highlights is independence, which she notes is a quality that students who study abroad feel most improved in. Rachouh concedes that independent trips can be daunting at first, but sometimes, it can build a lot of character to “get lost.”
When asked Rachouh what advice she would give to students considering studying abroad, she emphasized getting started as early as possible. If a student has any questions about the application process, she encourages them to book a meeting with her online or to reach out to Jane Winthrop, who is the new Assistant Director of International and Special Programs and is in charge of all follow-up emails.
For those who are nervous or feel unsure of the studying abroad experience itself, Rachouh reassures that their programs are purposely very student-focused, and that her office can connect students with others who have studied abroad in their country before. If there is not a Stevens student who has traveled to the country that a student is interested in before, they will connect them to the student who has gone through the experience that is closest to what theirs would look like or the specific part of the experience they have questions about. The Office of International Programs has four student staff assistants as well as global ambassadors, students who have come back from studying abroad and are volunteering, to help with these connections.
Rachouh also suggests that students reach out to their program provider, who can connect them to other students participating in their program. Another way that Rachouh ensures that students feel more at ease is by planning a Pre-Departure Orientation, in which students are grouped by country to share their concerns. Lastly, she shares that if you experience any issue with your program, you should inform their office about it via the evaluation form sent out after your trip.
To stay updated on the latest news regarding Stevens’ international programs, look out for Rachouh’s weekly emails and attend one of the weekly information sessions held every Wednesday at 3 p.m. To explore all of the international programs available for students, log into MyStevens and click on the “Undergraduate Study Abroad” app. For students who would like to study abroad this summer, the majority of deadlines to apply are on March 25th, while others are in early April.