This year the International Business (IBUS) program and the Management Department will be focusing our efforts on raising financial support for students to study abroad. Western students need to be competitive in the international field through these experiences, but many of our students cannot afford the cost associated with this travel.
Providing Funding to Reduce Costs for Study Abroad
WWU Give Day donations will give stipends of $1,000 toward airfare to our IBUS students to help them travel and gain professional experience abroad.
Why Travel Abroad?
Studies tell us, and data from our own alumni confirm that those who have meaningful study abroad experiences have better career opportunities. ‘Meaningful’ those experiences of longer period of study abroad, studying in one of our partner schools (direct exchange), studying in a non-English speaking country taking relevant coursework.
Get Our Students International Exposure
While scholarships exist for tuition, the cost of airfare is a major factor in the inability or lack of travel abroad. This stipend will open the doors for these students and allow them an experience that they will return to Western’s campus. Currently we can allow 10 of these $1,000 stipends, but imagine if we could provide 30?
Bringing Western to Seattle’s International Business World
Building the international business brand requires both professors and students to be more visible in the Seattle market. This includes participation in case competitions, trips to visit companies, networking events with alumni, and attendance at international trade and country-specific events.