Fall 2014 Study Abroad Fair Draws a Crowd

For an afternoon, Student Hall became an international bazaar, decked out with flags, posters, and brochures from around the world, for the Fall 2014 AIU Study Abroad Fair on October 24. With decorations for the following week’s Halloween party already in place, the fair took on a spooky air, but nobody could mistake the bustle and noise for a graveyard.

Universities with student representatives proved very popular with the fair visitors, as they could get in-depth information from the student perspective on campus life, courses, and all-around experience.

All AIU students are required to study abroad for one year as a criteria for graduation. However, with 167 partner universities providing possible study abroad destinations in 46 countries- and more added in each semester- it can be a challenge for students to narrow down their choices. The Study Abroad Fair, held each semester, gives Japanese students the opportunity to talk freely with both exchange students from partner universities and Japanese students who have returned from their study abroad experience- both to get information and to make friends.

Several students who already decided on their study abroad destination visited the fair to make friends with current exchange students who will become a friendly face immediately on arrival.

This semester’s Study Abroad Fair was our biggest yet, with 88 student volunteers representing 59 universities in 29 countries and regions, with another 51 universities and 12 countries and regions represented by brochures, posters, and university memorabilia. We are always grateful for the students’ participation and the generous support of their home universities, who send their brochures and encourage their students to join in the fair.

In addition to the universities that had student representatives, dozens more sent their brochures, posters, and souvenir goods. We only hope the ghosts on the windows didn’t frighten anyone away!

Thank you again to all the student volunteers who came out to represent their home and host universities, and a special thanks to those students who volunteered to come early and stay late to help us with the set-up and tear down! This fair could not succeed without all of our volunteers. We hope your efforts pay off and that the friendships that started at the Study Abroad Fair continue on at our international partners and after graduation, as well!