Does study abroad provide tangible benefits beyond the “fun” of the travel experience? There certainly are studies that show that the prolonged exposure to another culture and the associated personal growth that goes along with that do have positive long-term effects. There are also those that point out that many study abroad programs are poorly managed. Even so, the long-term effects of having to reach beyond one’s normal comfort zone seem to fall on the positive side.
I came across this 2013 graphical summary from Student Universe (a travel company that provides discounts and experiences for students, faculty and youth) which I thought readers might find interesting:
