Despite the cancellation of all international travel through the end of 2020, New Mexico State University’s Education Abroad continues to offer students options to explore the world.
“Virtual international experiences give students the opportunity to add an international experience from their home base in the U.S. to their regular semester at NMSU,” said Erica Nikolaisen, Education Abroad program manager. “Students earn three academic credits toward their degree while adding a global perspective to their professional work experience. Virtual international experiences include remote global internship placements and remote undergraduate research experiences at universities abroad.”
NMSU began offering virtual international experiences during the fall 2020 semester.
“Without the travel expenses of traditional education abroad programs, virtual international experiences are very affordable, and Education Abroad is offering scholarships as well,” Nikolaisen said.
A recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship and Freeman-ASIA Scholarship, Kousei Richeson selected to study at Nanzan University in Japan, and is excited for the virtual option.
“I am hoping to experience a great learning environment to intensively learn Japanese,” said Richeson, who hopes to travel in 2021. “I would like to learn Japanese so I can further connect with my family members in Japan. I also hope to make some friends on the way.”
Evelyn Loya, also a Gilman Scholarship and Freeman-ASIA Scholarship recipient, choose to study at Sogang University in South Korea, and hopes to travel in fall 2021.
“I’ve been wanting to travel to South Korea for years, and there’s a lot of cultural immersive activities I hope to experience through study abroad,” she said. “I think I’ve always had an interest in South Korea, and study abroad was the perfect opportunity to explore that.”
While travel is currently suspended, Education Abroad continues to work with students as they plan future education abroad programs.
Administered by the Institute of International Education, the Freeman-ASIA Scholarship provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students to study in East or Southeast Asia. The U.S. Department of State’s Gilman Scholarship Program provides students with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity.
To learn more about NMSU’s Education Abroad programs visit https://oel.nmsu.edu/educationabroad/.