NYU Wordpress Theme

Career

Study Away Prepares Students as Global Professionals and Global Citizens

Posted on , modified on by Katie L
Rawan Al-Wakeal

Rawan Al-Wakeal

We recently caught up with Rawan Al-Wakeal, manager of global career development at the NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development and Office of Global Programs (OGP). Below, she describes why study away is important for students to become global citizens as well as competitive applicants beyond their time at NYU.

Tell us about your role at Wasserman and OGP.

As manager of global career development, I coach students to develop their career narrative with a global lens and cultivate relationships with global employers and alumni abroad. I travel to various NYU locations each semester to introduce career development opportunities to our students around the world. And I am also in charge of reading global internship applications. I do all of this through an identity, diversity, belonging, equity, and accessibility (IDBEA) lens, with a particular focus on coaching study-away students to support them in their professional development.

How does studying away help NYU students in their careers?

Global experiences help students gain violet ready skills. The 10 skills in this set—including collaboration, professionalism, and intercultural fluency—are ones we’ve identified as being particularly in demand by employers. At the Wasserman Center, we work with students to ensure they can develop and enhance their skills, even while studying away.

Having a global mindset and international experience can set them apart in the job search, since many organizations are global. The global nature of NYU influences our alumni’s ability to adapt to a variety of environments, connect with people from different backgrounds, and excel in new places. Especially in uncertain times, those skills are vital to standing out among the crowd.

You’ve had a lot of international experience yourself. After going to college in Canada, you traveled in the Middle East and Africa. How have those experiences helped you in your career?

My international experience exposed me to various experiences and skills, such as intercultural and global fluency, communication, self-awareness, and reflection, that have supported my career development. Through my travel experiences and interaction with locals, I learned the importance of cultural diversity and sensitivity as well as gained an understanding of social cues and etiquette.

Additionally, I learned to actively listen, express myself clearly, and build relationships with colleagues from around the globe. I also learned to communicate and understand different languages and dialects such as colloquial Egyptian Arabic and North Levantine Arabic, which added to my understanding of Gulf Arabic.

Moreover, growing up as a global citizen and third-culture kid, I’ve witnessed how global issues and being from underprivileged backgrounds affect not only one’s livelihood but also one’s career development. I strive to advocate for these issues in my career and recommend that study away students interact with different cultures and make a positive, global impact through their careers. I encourage my students to try and understand the world around them while they are abroad and take part in every social, artistic, cultural, and diverse experience they can. These experiences will live with them for the rest of their lives. My own experiences live with me and made me who I am as a person and professional.

Written by Kristin Maffei

The Career Benefits of Studying Away

Posted on , modified on by Kristin Law

As graduation approaches, NYU students who are preparing to enter the workforce meet with recruiters to discuss their academic achievements, internship experiences, and extracurricular activities. Another thing recruiters are sure to ask them about: their study away experience.

According to Jonathan Martinez, assistant director of global academic planning at the Wasserman Center for Career Development, students develop an invaluable skill set when they study abroad.

A seated woman turning to look at a colleague

An NYU Washington, DC, student talks to a coworker at their internship at the Mexican embassy.

They learn how to connect with different people, adapt to new environments, and solve difficult problems. They acquire non-English language skills, develop a more nuanced understanding of the world, and transform into culturally sensitive adults. With these abilities, NYU students tend to emerge as top candidates in the workforce.

“Many students have told us their study away skills and experiences have been critical in professional settings,” says Martinez. “Our study away administrators and Wasserman coaches also coach students on how to translate their study abroad experiences into vivid examples that showcase their adaptability, openness to new experiences, ability to work independently, and facility for cross-cultural dialogue.”

The Role of Wasserman in the Global Career Experience

Every semester, Wasserman hosts a career week to provide students with global professional development opportunities, whether they’re interested in internships or postgraduation careers.

This past spring, the Global Career Week was virtual and featured an array of events including a workshop on personal branding, a discussion on the global job search, and a session on volunteering with the Peace Corps. Students heading abroad for a semester, year, or summer have the unique chance to seek out internships that align with their interests and professional goals while gaining global experience, and, regardless of their destination, students can work with Wasserman to find the right opportunity. If students want to head abroad for work after graduating, the Wasserman team can help them

  • secure an international work permit
  • obtain or renew their passport
  • find a place to live
  • connect with a career coach
  • find a country-specific job or internship
  • network with alumni
A student and an adviser seated at a table

Students can consult Wasserman career coaches to learn how to leverage their global study experience.

Study Abroad Resources from the Office of Global Programs

Much like the Wasserman Center for Career Development, NYU’s Office of Global Programs has a range of resources students can use to make the study abroad experience more accessible.

“The Office of Global Programs is committed to breaking down any perceived or actual barriers students may face when submitting interest for study abroad,” says Martinez. “Providing extra funding for students is one thing we do because a financial burden holding students back from studying away is the last thing we want to happen. All students are eligible for the Global Pathways Scholarship, and, in some cases, students can use funding for up-front costs like plane tickets. We also offer many cohort-based programs like the Study Away Internships in which enrolled students are guaranteed an internship!”

Written by Samantha Jamison