Today, we live in a global world. We are bombarded with competition from abroad, businesses are increasingly focusing on global markets and technology is driving us to a converging commonality. We must be prepared for this new landscape with a set of skills one can easily obtain while studying abroad.
Studying in another country is not just an adventure, it’s a smart move that will help you boost your success in college and give you a competitive edge in the workplace upon graduation. This is why Suffolk County Community College offers affordable opportunities to study and experience life in another country.
The College offers a variety of study abroad educational experiences that allow students to earn academic credit while gaining skills employers truly value, including the ability to: communicate across cultures, make decisions quickly and independently, apply critical thinking and take calculated risks based on the ability to rapidly adjust to new circumstances.
This summer, Suffolk’s Office of General Education is offering study abroad opportunities in Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Sorrento and Florence, Italy; Peru; and St. Lucia. Courses include: Italian and Spanish Languages and Cultures, Culinary Arts, Caribbean Cultures and Colonial Latin America.
Students attending Suffolk can also join any study abroad program offered through the SUNY system — a total of more than 800 programs — with destinations such as Antarctica and Patagonia, London and Delhi, and
many more.
“The opportunity to study abroad is one that should not be missed while in college. The experience will change your life forever,” says Dr. Iaroslava Babenchuk, College Associate Dean for Special Programs and External Partnerships. “Studying abroad can be that key item on your résumé that will single you out as an achiever. You may meet someone abroad who will become your mentor, or a good friend, or your future business partner. You may decide to study for a longer period of time in another country after a short experience there. Opportunities are endless once you open up to them.”
Shaun Enright, a liberal arts student who graduated Suffolk in 2015, attended the study abroad session in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, to improve his Spanish language skills. “I highly recommend the experience,” he says. “Studying abroad opens your eyes to the world and changes how you see things.”
For more about the Study Abroad Program at Suffolk, simply call 631-451-4111 or visit sunysuffolk.edu/Enroll.
– Mary M. Feder
Benefits of Studying Abroad
- Develop a better understanding of the world and its cultures
- Enhance your résumé
- Improve foreign language skills
- Expand career opportunities
- Learn how to effectively communicate with people from different parts of the world
- Build professional and personal connections globally
