The Return of Study Abroad at Fisher
November 9, 2022
Study abroad at Fisher is back! After the COVID-19 pandemic stalled participation in study abroad education and domestic travel, Fisher is starting to see an increasing number of students interested in international opportunities.
The University’s Director of Global Education, Dr. Stella Plutino-Calabrese, is once again bringing awareness to the benefits of studying abroad. Plutino-Calabrese noted that despite the number of students being smaller than pre-pandemic participation, a hopeful number of 80 students signed up this year for study abroad opportunities. Students are choosing to travel to Italy, Ireland, Spain, France, Hungary, Greece, Australia, South Korea, and more.
“The study abroad experience is an opportunity for them to get to know the country of their ancestry, and learn more about their family, language, and culture,” she explained, adding that students can benefit immensely from studying abroad in the form of taking classes for Core, majors, minors, and electives. Students are able to fulfill an internship based on their major of study, in English, no matter where they are because language does not have to be a barrier.
Plutino-Calabrese provides advising assistance throughout the entire process, including helping students attain their visas. The Center for Career and Academic Planning and Registrar’s Office also play an important role in reviewing and approving courses. Chairs, directors, and the Office of Student Financial Services advise and promote the benefits of studying abroad and meet individually with each student to review their financial aid packages, scholarships, and grants, working to ensure that finances are not a barrier to study abroad. “Fisher is very generous with their financial aid when it comes to students going abroad,” she said.
To boost awareness of the study abroad resources and availability on campus, Fisher is helping to promote the ROC Your Global Future, an annual series of networking events and career development opportunities where students can connect and explore study abroad opportunities. This year, starting Tuesday, Nov. 14, Fisher and six other Rochester area colleges are hosting ROC Your Global Future’s International Education Week.
Free virtual workshops will be offered during the entire week to connect and inspire students to be global citizens. Beginning with a talk by featured speaker Jo Franco, a Netflix host, writer, and influencer, International Education Week includes several influential workshops.
Featured Speaker: Traveling the World with Jo Franco – Netflix TV Host, Writer, and Influencer
Tuesday, Nov. 15, 5 to 6 p.m., via Zoom
Jo Franco is a well-known travel & language content creator, polyglot, writer, and host of Netflix’s World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals. She has been an influencer for more than a decade, and with over 1.3 million subscribers, she works to inspire a global community to improve themselves through learning languages, cultures, financial literacy, adventure, and inclusion. Register and Zoom Link
Teaching Abroad
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 11 a.m. to noon, via Zoom
Hear from current and former teachers working abroad and learn how to find a position, be a successful teacher in another country, and prepare for this one-of-a-kind adventure. Register and Zoom Link
Peace Corps
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 4 to 5 p.m., via Zoom
Learn about meaningful opportunities to go abroad after graduation with the Peace Corps. Through Peace Corps’ two-year program life-defining experiences, volunteers can fully integrate into a host country community, where they live and work on education, health, economic development, environment, agriculture, and youth development projects. Register and Zoom Link
Post-Baccalaureate International Fellowships & Scholarships
Thursday, Nov. 17., 4 to 5 p.m., via Zoom
Learn about post-baccalaureate international fellowships and scholarships after you graduate. Programs covered include: U.S. Fulbright Student Program, Schwarzman Scholarship, Boren Awards, Critical Language Scholarship, Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange, DAAD, Princeton in Asia, and UK scholarships like Marshall, Gates Cambridge, and Mitchell. Register and Zoom Link
Full ROC Your Global Future Workshop schedule
This article was written by Grace Valenti ’24, an English major at St. John Fisher University. Completing a Certificate in Public and Professional Writing, Valenti also serves as the PR Writing intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications.