Seven findings stand out among the results:
1. Study abroad has an overall positive impact on the development of a wide range of 21st century job skills. Of the 15 skills surveyed, the largest portion of respondents reported developing a broad range of cognitive, intrapersonal, and interpersonal skills to a significant degree through study abroad, namely: intercultural skills, curiosity, flexibility & adaptability, confidence, self-awareness, interpersonal skills, communication, problem solving, language, tolerance for ambiguity, and course or major-related knowledge.
2. Study abroad expands career possibilities. Studying abroad gave interviewees both a broader understanding of career possibilities, and the confidence to pursue these career paths. The survey data and the information gleaned from interviews suggest that studying abroad had unintended benefits in terms of not only developing skills and shifting attitudes, but also opening career pathways and opportunities that had been either previously unknown or simply unconsidered. It also helped participants feel more ambitious and less tentative in their careers, in addition to opening up unanticipated career pathways.
3. The skills gained through studying abroad have a long-term impact on career progression and promotion. More than half of survey respondents reported that they believe their study abroad experience contributed to a job offer at some point.
4. Longer periods of studying abroad have a high impact on subsequent job offers and the development of most skills. Short term programs are most effective at developing teamwork skills. The strongest impact of length on skill development was seen in foreign language and communication skills.
5. STEM majors highly value the gains made in skills outside of their majors while studying abroad. Among surveyed science majors who went on a program outside of the sciences, 47 percent reported their study abroad contributed to a job offer, whereas among those who went on a science focused experience, and 28 percent reported it contributed to a job offer.
6. Choosing a less familiar destination was positively associated with skill development and sense of career impact. Interviewees who described wanting to choose a “different” location, often meaning a country or region they had not previously visited or a location they viewed as less traveled or culturally similar to the United States, were more likely to describe a clear impact on skill development and career utility.
7. Student intentionality and highly structured programs contribute to skill development. Having career prospects in mind prior to studying abroad had an overall positive impact on the ability of those interviewed to articulate their skill development and the impact it had on their career.
“In today’s globally interconnected economy, most students will develop careers where they work for or do business with international companies,” said Allan Goodman, IIE president. “Our goal is to help educators and employers better understand the specific links between study abroad and career skills, to advance their mutual interest in developing global talent. Alumni report that the skills gained through studying abroad can be powerful tools for long term career success.”
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