There are many study abroad options available for TRU students at schools across Europe, Asia, Australia, North America and South America. However, opportunities for students to study in Africa are much more limited, currently confined to one school in Morocco according to the ISEP (International Student Exchange Program) website. So why are there so few opportunities for TRU students to study in Africa?
Study abroad programs provide you with opportunities to take courses in different countries while completing your degree. Universities form direct partnerships with each other based on reciprocity to provide access to these opportunities.
TRU Mobility Officer Carol Ryujin-Kawa said that university partnerships only make sense when demand for study at both schools from students at both schools is equal.
“TRU has direct partnerships with several schools globally, however it does not currently have any partnerships with schools in Africa” said Ryujin-Kawa.
Ryujin-Kawa also added that “in my 20 years at TRU I have only known of one case of a TRU student wanting to study abroad in Africa”.
In addition to their existing partnerships with other schools, TRU works with the non-profit organization ISEP to give TRU students exposure to a larger study abroad network. ISEP works to connect TRU students with other schools abroad that have study opportunities available. Currently ISEP indicates that there are 259 study programs available to TRU students, including the single opportunity in Africa.
Like reciprocity partnerships between schools, opportunities facilitated through ISEP are based on demand. Increased opportunities are available to study in locations where more students express an interest in studying. Low demand from TRU students to study in Africa has resulted in the current low availability of opportunities for them to study in Africa. If more students express interest in studying in Africa, increased opportunities for TRU students may be expected in the future, through direct school partnerships or organizations like ISEP.
Sources:
International Student Exchange Programs. Accessed 10 Oct 2024.
Thompson Rivers University. Accessed 10 Oct 2024.
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