By Shelby Leisinger
In the University of Iowa Study Abroad Office in the University Capitol Center, students eagerly await meeting with experienced advisers to guide them in their quest to become international students.
Finding the right location to study abroad can be a difficult process, especially when parents and students have concerns about safety.
Autumn Tallman, Study Abroad’s associate director for international health, safety, and security, has been with the study-abroad program for almost 15 years. She provides many resources that can reduce the risks when studying abroad.
“Statistically, terrorism is not the most likely problem a student will face abroad, but it can be a conversation starter,” she said. “We provide pre-departure training and resources; we ask all travelers to consider known risks in their destination.”
The United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy remain the most popular destinations for students nationwide and at the UI. According to the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers, Europe is where more than half of American students travel, coming in at just over 53 percent in 2014.
France, however, is not included in this heavy majority of European destinations. Though the lack of enrollment came before the terrorist attacks last year, it remains a concern for students and parents.
“I’ve thought about it, and I realize that [terrorist attacks] are a problem, [but] I don’t think that it would dissuade me from going abroad,” UI sophomore Samantha Stuba said. “I would be nervous about going to Paris.”
She said she plans on enrolling in a program in Spain where she can master her Spanish and focus on international business and marketing. With a mindset common among American students, she said she likes that Europe allows for easy travel from country to country.
In an effort to diversify the destinations students travel to, UI International Programs Associate Director Elizabeth Wildenberg de Hernandez hopes to increase the number of students going to less-popular destinations.
“We hope that students will approach their program search from the perspective of ‘What am I hoping to accomplish through my international experience?’ instead of ‘Where do I want to go?’ ” she said. “By making that simple shift, students are opened up to many locations they might not have considered.”
Currently, there are only two countries that have travel warnings associated with them by the U.S. State Department: Mexico and Israel. Exceptions can be made after a careful review of the area and risk assessment, Tallman said.
The UI is leading in the nation in the number of students studying abroad in India. Officials also have seen an increase in the number of UI international students who choose to study abroad.
“Since international students have experience working through issues of cultural adjustment in coming to Iowa, they are typically well-suited to do the same in a third country,” Wildenberg de Hernandez said.
“Cross-cultural experiences can improve our critical thinking and make us better informed citizens,” Tallman said. “Student travel abroad is a partnership between students and the university. Both program administrators and students have important roles to play to make the experience as safe as possible.”