UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Each year, the Education Abroad directorate in the Office of Global Programs hosts the Education Abroad fair. Usually, the event happens in the HUB at University Park campus. They set up booths, they have breakout sessions, and they talk to students about all the options for an international experience through Penn State.
This year, all of that is still happening — but virtually. Using the platform Brazen — a networking and online career fair software — Education Abroad is hoping to simulate the in-person environment on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
The Education Abroad team is looking forward to informing students about study abroad opportunities, even on the heels of the announcement that all Spring 2021 study abroad has been cancelled.
"The purpose of the fair," explained Briana Casey, one of the organizers of the event, "is to help students begin planning for their experiences — which could be one to two years down the road — so we are promoting our approved, in-person programs. We are constantly thinking about how we can offer high-quality international experiences to our students, particularly once it is safe to return to the traditional education-abroad program models. At this time we are working with our faculty and external partners who run summer programs to determine what options can be made available to our students and are looking forward to our summer 2021 and fall/academic year applications opening on Nov. 1.
“Our partners have set up virtual booths," added Casey. "Students will need to register beforehand, and then at the event, they can put themselves in a queue to chat with representatives from the booths they are interested in. It’s a great way to connect with students in this virtual environment.”
"The annual education abroad fair is an important event for Global Programs and all of Penn State when we can showcase learning abroad opportunities offered by our partners and dedicated faculty for the entire community,” said Brian Brubaker, director of Education Abroad.
Representatives from around campus, around the country, and around the world will be in attendance.
“One of the benefits of a virtual event is that some of our partners who wouldn’t have been able to make it in person are setting up booths,” Casey said. “We’re able to have international partners as well as faculty and staff from the other campuses.”
Students from any Penn State campus can attend the Education Abroad fair.
In addition to the booths, there will be multiple breakout sessions held for students:
- 4:30–5 p.m.: Study Abroad 101, presented by an Education Abroad peer adviser (a returned study-abroad student)
- 5–5:30 p.m.: Internships Abroad Information Session, presented by Renata Horvatek, international internships adviser, Education Abroad
- 5:30–6 p.m.: Research Abroad Information Session, presented by Renata Horvatek, international internships adviser, Education Abroad
- 6–6:30 p.m.: Education Abroad “Paying the Way” Session (scholarships and funding), presented by Kristin Franco, adviser, Education Abroad
“As we navigate the uncertainties of the COVID pandemic, we're even more mindful of the important role that intercultural understanding and global collaboration play,” said Brubaker. “Although our fair will be different this year (in a virtual setting) we want all students to keep in mind the invaluable opportunity study abroad can present."
To register for the fair, visit this link. For more information, visit the Education Abroad Fair website.