The value of a college degree from a small liberal arts school is often tied to a more intimate, meaningful higher education experience. Global education is garnering increasing interest, making study abroad an essential component for institutions striving to attract a shrinking pool of prospective students.
According to recent data, 71% of freshmen begin college hoping or planning to study abroad during their academic career, and nearly half first gained interest in high school. For many students, having the opportunity significantly influences their college selection and enrollment decisions.
Smaller, liberal arts institutions have long stood out as unique providers of impactful programs that have a lasting impact and can distinguish themselves from larger schools by leaning into their unique, outcome-driven offerings. As support of these programs is crucial in a post-pandemic world in order to ensure their accessibility, enhancing study abroad offerings and effectively marketing those offerings can appeal to a distinct population of prospective students that aligns with the values of a small liberal arts education.
Here are seven ways to enhance the study abroad value proposition to students:
1. Emphasize unique academic offerings in study abroad packages
By highlighting specialized academic opportunities abroad, small colleges can attract students seeking specific global education experiences. Colleges that market their partnerships with international institutions or nontraditional global education opportunities, including virtual study abroad programs, service-learning, or cultural immersion, can offer programs that may not be offered at larger institutions.
2. Promote holistic student development
Study abroad programs present students with experiences that expand their personal and professional growth and opportunities. Small colleges should emphasize the development of soft skills, cultural competencies, and global awareness gained to appeal to students seeking real-world education and skill development as these benefits often closely align with why the student might choose a small liberal arts school.
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Students consider studying abroad to be a valuable experience that impacts their worldview, exposing them to different global assumptions and beliefs, and 90% of students believe study abroad is important for personal and professional growth.
3. Improve student and institutional outcomes through data
Understanding what students want in a study abroad program is critical to success. Tracking and analyzing data allows institutions to uncover valuable insights, such as the programs students find most appealing, the demographics of underrepresented groups, and which programs correlate with the highest rates of on-time graduation. Once Berry College, a small liberal arts college in Georgia, digitally transformed its program management the international experiences team was able to access historical data and trends to pinpoint program gaps and better address student needs.
4. Create inclusive and accessible programs
There are a number of barriers that make it difficult for some student segments to study abroad, including financial concerns and disabilities. To ensure that all students who want to can do so, institutions should explore increasing financial aid opportunities through scholarships, loans and grants. Many schools, like Texas-based HBCU Prairie View A&M University, offer passport support to students who have difficulty securing a passport or can’t afford the associated fees. Accommodations, like flexible assignment deadlines, improve the study abroad experience for students with learning disabilities. Smaller schools have an opportunity to consider creative methods to improve their accessibility and communicate the options available to students who may not realize they could participate in a program.
5. Improve study abroad marketing strategies
Marketing study abroad options to students is vital to a flourishing program. Colleges should take advantage of digital resources to share testimonials from alumni, program highlights and other engaging content that resonates with prospective students. Connect alumni with prospective study abroad students to share their experiences.
General information sessions are the most desired resource for additional information, as 22% of students report that is how they discovered study abroad opportunities, and 38% of students say information sessions from program providers would be the most beneficial additional resource from their university.
6. Foster institutional partnerships
Collaborating with specific global institutions enhances the offerings and visibility of study abroad programs. Establish partnerships with universities abroad to expand options, making global education more attractive for prospective students. Washington and Lee, a small private liberal arts school in Lexington, Va., has partnerships with multiple global universities and programs to expand their offerings including multiple program offerings with Oxford University.
7. Incorporate study abroad into curriculum
Integrating study abroad into the college’s core curriculum ensures that students can see the value of global education programs in relation to their degree. Programs that tie to a variety of majors and minors enable students to complete the core.
