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Micah Tsukamoto

Mr. Donald

Writing for College

15 April 2018

International Education: A Better Choice

Most students only look to attend college in the United States, but what if there were

cheaper, more beneficial choices that provide a superior education? International education,

attending school outside of the U.S., has been rising in student interest. But, there are still not

enough students willing to study abroad. This option will help low income families, since costs

to attend international universities are generally much cheaper compared to their American

counterparts. Even though international schools are cheaper, their education is still on par with

American colleges, maybe even better. In addition to these benefits, an international degree will

provide perks that carry on into adulthood. Pursuing an education from universities outside of the

United States will provide students with a more cost-effective education, help strengthen their

global awareness, and improve their future careers.

Attending an international university can provide a cost-effective education that is on par,

or even better than an American education. Attending a university in North America is costly,

and most students take out a loan that follows them through their early after-college years. But,

international education provides an alternative option. A student who is willing to travel

elsewhere, like the Netherlands, can enjoy college costs of around $10,700 a year at the

University of Amsterdam. This is compared to a college like McGill University in Canada, with

an annual tuition fee of around $20,000. In addition, "The most popular destinations among
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46,500-plus degree-seeking Americans abroad are the United Kingdom (where tuition averages

$21,365 per year), followed by Canada ($16,746) and France ($247)" (Snider). As shown here,

some Americans have already looked into studying abroad, but in the wrong places. For

example, having an education under $300 is a dream for Americans seeking higher education.

International degrees require a shorter amount of time to complete due to a more focused

curriculum, explaining why prices are so low. "In the rest of the world, by and large, you come in

knowing what major you are focused on and what your course of study will be" (Fuscaldo). It

seems that in America, experimenting with different majors is encouraged in college.

Shaving one year off of college is also a reason why international education is cheaper.

As referenced earlier in this paper, some international degrees are much cheaper because of their

more focused curriculum. When studying at an American university, the first year of college is

really just introductory courses, even if they don’t pertain to ones' major. But in certain countries

outside of the U.S., when one enters college, they are already expected to know their career path,

which leads to a much more excelled learning experience. Being certain on ones' major plays a

large role in these international universities. Changing career paths means having to start over

from the beginning and, "You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you have to start

all over again if you change your mind" (Fuscaldo). In addition to low cost fees, some

international universities offer no tuition to international students. In Germany and Norway,

some universities are tuition-free: "All state-run universities in Germany are tuition-free,

including the University of Munich, Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg and the University

of Hamburg" (Snider). This information helps to solidify the claim that international education

can significantly lower costs for its students.

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By attending a university outside of America, many may assume one must be fluent in

that country's language. This is false, as there are colleges with English programs, or

international universities that use English as their primary language of teaching. The education

system in Korea is trying to implement this type of education so they can attract more

international students while at the same time providing a cost-effective education for their

domestic students in Korea. To accomplish this, they are inviting universities from around the

world to create campuses on Korean shores. An author in the International Journal of Higher

Education writes, "Alternatively, inviting off-shore campuses from overseas would be a cost-

effective way to educate domestic students globally (Wilkins & Huisman, 2012, among others).

Incheon Global Campus (IGC) in Korea is one example" (Jin). Although these colleges may be

small and new, they have much going for them that may attract prospective students. Incheon

Global Campus, an off-shore university, has the potential to be a leading research university in

Korea. "In addition, the horizontal combination of all participating universities at the IGC that

consists of 30-40 departments has a strong potential to rank number one as a research university

in Korea" (Jin). In addition to achievements like this, most offshore campuses are quite small,

allowing for a closer relationship with students and faculty that may appeal to some applicants.

When attending an international university, the student may assume they will not be able

to use U.S. financial aid, as it might apply to only American schools. But, U.S. financial aid can

apply to students studying abroad. In an article written on the costs of an overseas degree, the

author writes, "U.S. financial aid may apply. American students may be able to receive U.S.

federal loans – although typically not grants – to study at an international college. The

Department of Education has a list of international schools participating in its student loan

program" (Snider). The U.S. Department of Education has a list of international schools
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participating in financial aid programs for students, which may further lower the cost of an

already 'cheap' tuition. There are numerous types of loans that students can receive, such as many

types of Direct Loans, but grants cannot be issued since international schools don't participate in

the Department of Education's grant programs. Loan funds vary from $5,500 to $20,500, and

with international tuition already being so low, a student's education may be completely paid for.

Additionally, if a student is studying at a university in America and is interested in participating

in a 1-year study abroad program, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or (FAFSA),

may be available. Surprisingly, along with financial aid, International students going to college in

Canada are also able to receive merit-based scholarships.

International students in Canada may use American financial aid and can also receive

merit-based scholarships from Canadian schools, says Jennifer Humphries, vice president

for membership, public policy and communications at the Canadian Bureau for

International Education. (Snider)

Along with Canada, Ritsumeikan University in Japan offers an International Student Assistance

Scholarship that awards $2,252 per year. Based off of this information, there is an abundance of

student aid or scholarships that can be of assistance to students seeking to obtain an international

degree.

A cost-effective education is not just the only reason international education is superior to

studying in the U.S. Attending international universities will allow students to strengthen their

global awareness through experiences in other countries/cultures. When studying abroad, a

student may have to stay with another family who is native to that country, or a host family.

Often, staying with a host family is beneficial to the student and the family since both parties get

an experience of the other culture. This serves as a great learning experience as one rarely gets
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the opportunity to live with someone from a different country. A study conducted by two authors

in the Journal of International Students covered cultural expectations of Japanese and American

host families participating in a study abroad program. The families were given a survey on

different questions, including ones about hospitality and what they expected of the other culture.

After this, the researchers explained the vast difference of experiences that the students had with

their host families. In one instance, a Japanese student was told by his host family to help

themselves to the food in the fridge. The authors explained why this seemed odd to the student,

Japanese people expect hosts to serve their guests while Americans generally prefer a

more casual approach to dining at home where typically food is put out on the table and

guests are told to “help themselves” to the foods. The Japanese students most likely

hesitated to open the host family’s refrigerator and select foods on their own because they

were brought up in a culture where people are expected to know their position and

behave modestly. (Kobayashi and Viswat)

In this situation, the Japanese students were expecting a grand meal presented to them by their

American host families but instead got the exact opposite. This is one example of a learning

experience, since the student expected something not typical for Americans. Since the U.S. has a

very individualistic culture, the student was given the freedom to choose what they wanted from

the fridge instead of being forced to eat something specific for dinner. On the other hand, the

American family may have learned that the Japanese dislike speaking their mind since the

community is such a large part of the culture there. "While many Japanese students were

inwardly dissatisfied or unhappy with some circumstances of their homestay experience, they

didn’t express their discontent to their host family" (Kobayashi and Viswat). Both parties in this

instance could learn from other and compromise to get a worthwhile experience.
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Teaching others directly is another way international exchanges strengthen students'

awareness of other cultures. Through envoys, students can accomplish this task. Envoys are an

exchange program that aim to educate about cultures and create bonds of friendship with

students across the world. In today's world we can be considered global citizens, since

technology is able to connect people thousands of miles apart. In a TED talk about envoys, the

presenter, a founder of the envoy program, says this about global citizenship:

Three (factors) I'd like to highlight that are common across all definitions of global

citizenship; the ability to see yourself as connected to the world, the ability to collaborate

with people from different cultural backgrounds, and the ability to comprehend and take

action, to shape the forces of globalization. (Leighton)

By being a global citizen, we break country borders and are united with people from across the

globe, which is something that seems possible now due to technology. Additionally-- with the

envoy program, students are taken on out-of-school outings that provide a more hands-on

experience, allowing for greater understanding of a country, or just for improved learning.

Leighton provides an example by saying,

When we take students snorkeling with sea lions and sharks in the Galapagos islands, you

can guarantee they're going to remember it, you can be sure they're going to be engaged,

and they will also be open to guidance and mentorship from their instructors. (Leighton)

The envoy program provides for better learning and immersion among students who are willing

to study abroad.

Some international schools teach about other cultures in class, to further the connection

and understanding between multi-cultural students. Japan has recently partnered with UNESCO
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(United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), to increase international

students and education-- and by doing this, allows their ever-increasing number of foreign

residents to seek education in Japan. "[C]hances to feel the importance of intercultural education

in students’ daily lives and community have been increased. Alien residents are increasing, and

now we have 2.2 million foreigners living in Japan (Ministry of Justice, 2016)" (Yoshida). With

Japan's population increasing and diversifying in the recent years, the country must be ready to

cater to the needs of foreign residents. Due to the partnership with UNESCO, some schools in

Japan must change their course curriculum and subjects that are taught there. Teachers now must

learn how to incorporate an international student's culture into their class, so native students can

learn about different cultures and their practices.

The most education for international understanding in Japan has planned to execute in

existing school subjects (MEXT, 1996). Then, it is needed for education for international

understanding to interrelate with other existing school subjects, such as social science,

language, moral education, and integrated learning. (Yoshida)

Japanese schools are slowly incorporating "international understanding" into every section of

learning, something that will allow for greater global awareness among both Japanese and

international students there. International schools will soon be a place where students can not

only learn, but gain a greater understanding of foreign cultures that may be unknown to them.

Exchange programs/international education also has a latent function, foreign policy for

countries. Most of the time, foreign policy comes into mind as sending diplomats or government

officials to another country to negotiate over problems-- but by studying abroad, students can be

their own diplomats by setting a great example and creating friendships with students abroad.
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"Global education has been a neglected component of U.S. foreign policy and should be

a driving force in moving forward to build bridges with other countries, breaking down

cultural barriers, acting as preventive national security, and better equipping the

American youth to be the diplomats of the future" (Choudhury).

Countries haven't thought of the idea of international exchange as a method of foreign policy, but

if countries were to implement these types of diplomacy, it has the potential to be effective.

Choudhury also interviews a classmate who studied abroad in Morocco, and shares his story of

how he better understands their daily routine and religion.

During my stay in Morocco, I developed a great amount of respect for Muslim culture.

The Moroccans’ way of living, such as their family structure, friendships, education,

food, and behaviors derives from what the Koran has taught them. Also, I have a better

understanding of the hijab. Before I saw it as a tool of women’s subjugation, but today I

understand that in their culture it empowers women. (Chowdhury)

By engaging in international exchange, one gets a look inside of a culture that seems foreign to

us back at home. In addition to this, a secondary benefit to using study abroad as a method of

diplomacy is its' cheaper cost compared to using the military to solve conflicts. A foreign

exchange program can cost "$10,000 plus pocket expenses", while it costed the U.S. "$30 billion

for the entire fiscal year, or $1 million per soldier", to increase the number of troops in

Afghanistan in 2011 (Chowdhury). International education not only provides a cheaper

education, but also serves as a method to open minds to other cultures and make students

diplomats for a brighter future.

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Students attending college must not only be able to learn from books, but also from

experience. Pursuing an international degree will benefit students by providing them with

benefits that carry on into their future careers. Students rarely attend international universities,

but by accomplishing this task, a student can gain special skills that will help them in the

workplace. As referenced in my second point, studying abroad allows for an increased awareness

and tolerance of other cultures, and aids in collaborating with people of different race, something

prevalent in the modern workplace. Attending an international university will expose a student to

new people from different places, and this carries on to the workplace, where one will meet

many new people, likely from different areas of the world/country. With technology expanding

its reaches, workers will also be collaborating a lot in their jobs, so being able to cooperate with

everyone is an integral skill to have when joining the workforce. In an article published in the

Journal of International Students, an author interviews a company to see how they value an

applicant who has partaken in an international experience: “Mobile students with an international

experience develop intercultural competence, global awareness and foreign language training –

exactly the employability skills that are well received on the labor market” (Nilsson and

Ripmeester). Being able to speak a second language is also beneficial when looking for a job,

and most international universities have courses in a foreign language.

Certain skills in general are not only what employers look for in an applicant, as there

are many other factors that play a part in who gets hired. But, international education still plays a

large part in this. In a study from an article in the Institute of Interntional Education, the

researchers found out that sixty-five percent of employers consider international experiences

important for hiring, and over ninety percent are looking for those skills enhanced by studying

abroad. Some examples of these skills are; curiosity about new challenges, problem-solving, and
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decision- making skills. Curiosity about new challenges is an important trait in an employer's

eyes. This is because a worker must be ready to take on new challenges as a company constantly

evolves and generates new work. International students are ideal models of this trait as by taking

on the risk of studying in a new place, they are being open to new ideas and challenges. Problem-

solving is another crucial trait since without this skill, a future employee will not know how to

take on difficult or confusing tasks. The same article also references a survey that asked

employers how much they value international study experiences and gave this response; "Based

on responses from 10,000 recruiters worldwide, this QS Global Employer Report found that

employers are looking for the skills and experience gained through the overseas study experience

when hiring graduates" (Institute of International Education). Even worldwide, international

study is deemed important by employers. On the other hand though, certain skills linked to

international education were not visible to employers.

"A substantial number of skills that are also linked to mobility were not visible to

employers. The study concludes that young people need more guidance in making

competencies such as productivity, resilience and curiosity gained from their international

experiences more visible" (Institute of International Education).

To make these traits visible, students must try to learn even more throughout their education, and

take more opportunities to work and build on these traits.

Attending an international university also increases likelihood of getting employed right

after college. Some international universities offer programs where a student can get a degree in

a certain field, and have a company waiting to hire them. An example of this would be at

international universities in Japan, where a student can take courses in Japanese and business. In

the student's senior year, companies look at these colleges and begin to find students who fit in
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with their company. After graduation, students usually get swiped up my Japanese businesses

looking for the best students. In places like Europe, a study showed that international students

have better chances of finding a job after graduating when compared to their non-international

counterparts. Not only this, but students found a job quite quickly after graduating, "UK Higher

Education International Unit report finds that graduates who had studied, worked, or volunteered

abroad were more likely to be employed within six months of graduation" (Institute of

International Education). This can be compared to education in America, where most of the time,

students come out of college with a degree and thousands of dollars of debt—often carrying on

into early adulthood. Adding to this, the American job market is highly competitive, making it

hard to land a job quickly. In comparison, an international education is much cheaper than

college in the U.S., and will not leave a student with after-college debt most in most cases. When

an international student joins the workforce, they can start saving money from their paychecks

rather than having to pay for college debt. As a bonus, a study showed that those who studied

abroad have a 25% higher starting salary than those who did not study abroad. Additionally, by

attending an international university, a second, or even third– language skill can be developed.

One of the most important factors in why employers favor international students over

'normal' applicants is because of language skills. By attending an international university,

students are usually required to take a foreign language course. In doing this, students who aren't

already fluent in a foreign language become fluent and increase their communication skills.

Being able to speak two languages is important in the job market and allows applicants to stand

out more among others. But how though? Being fluent in a foreign language allows an employee

to me more useful in communicating with others or customers. In a communications department

in the workplace, an employee who is fluent in two languages will be able to take on calls from
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outside the country, or communicate with foreign customers, which may bring in more revenue

to a company. Employers see these benefits, which is why being able to speak more than one

language stands out on an employee's application. Another way a second language is useful is

that it opens job opportunities in other countries. By becoming fluent in another language, a

student is now capable of applying for work outside of their home country, potentially being able

to work for higher pay. The ability to speak a second language is a powerful skill that can aid

international students in finding jobs easier.

Attending a university outside of the United States is often overlooked in our modern

society. But, attending an international university will provide those who cannot afford to attend

college in the U.S., a cheaper alternative through special programs and government aid, teach

students about different cultures while expanding their acceptance of others, and expose them to

new job opportunities through various skills learned from an international education, such as a

second language. Americans still do not recognize these benefits, and to better inform people,

one should take action by talking to friends and family, writing to a newspaper (online or

physical) about international education, or even to a lawmaker to promote studying abroad. By

doing this, everyone can make America a better, smarter, and more diverse society.
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Works Cited

Chowdhury, Tahsin. “Sponsoring Study Abroad: The Most Cost Effective Foreign Policy Tool.”

Roosevelt Institute, 28 Mar. 2012, rooseveltinstitute.org/sponsoring-study-abroad-most-

cost-effective-foreign-policy-tool/.

Fuscaldo, Donna. “Studying Abroad May Be Cheaper Than Going to School in The U.S.

GoodCall News.” Good Call, 22 July 2015, www.goodcall.com/news/looking-for-an-

affordable-education-consider-studying-abroad-01504 .

“How Study Abroad Contributes to Career Readiness: 8 Studies.” IIE: The Power of

International Education, www.iie.org/Learn/Blog/2015-September-How-Study-Abroad-

Contributes-To-Career-Readiness-8-Studies.

“International Schools.” Federal Student Aid, 13 Nov. 2017,studentaid.ed.gov/sa /prepare-for-

college/choosing-schools/types/international.

Jin, Jang C. "Internationalization, Deregulation and the Extension of Higher Education in Korea:

A Further Note." International Journal of Higher Education, vol. 4, no. 3, 01 Jan. 2015,

pp. 156-160. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct =true&db =

eric&AN =EJ1088732&site=ehost-live.

Kobayashi, Junko and Linda Viswat. "A Relational Approach to International Education through

Homestay Programs." Journal of International Students, vol. 5, no. 4, 01 Sept. 2015, pp.

475-487. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1066277&site=ehost-live.
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Leighton, Seth. TEDxTalks. YouTube, TEDx, 12 Aug. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?

time_continue=363&v=AdtY9sW0lbk

Nilsson, Per A, and Nannette Ripmeester. “International Student Expectations: Career

Opportunities and Employability.” Journal of International Students, vol. 6, no. 2, 2016,

pp. 614–631., jistudents.org/.

Rosenberg, Eric. “5 Career Advantages of Studying Abroad.” HCCMIS,

www.hccmis.com/blog/study-abroad/5-career-advantages-of-studying-abroad/.

Snider, Susannah. “Calculate the Cost of Earning an Overseas Degree.” U.S. News, 28 Oct.

2014, 8:00a.m., www.usnews.com/education/best-global-

universities/articles/2014/10/28/calculate-the-cost-of-earning-an-overseas-degree.

Yoshida, Masami. "Recognition of International Education in Japanese Teachers." Journal of

Education and Training Studies, vol. 5, no. 2, 01 Feb. 2017, pp. 53-62. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1125773&site=ehost

-live.