Guidelines for Education Abroad Advising

​doi.org/10.36366/G.978-1-952376-13-9  | ISBN: 978-1-952376-13-9

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Advising for education abroad helps students decide if, when, where, how, what, why, and for how long to study abroad. It is essential in helping students prepare for, navigate, and process educational experiences abroad and ensuring that the student’s goals align with their program’s values and mission and goals. Done well, education abroad advising helps students integrate education abroad into their personal, academic and professional planning and encourages them to take advantage of the full range of opportunities available to them. Quality education abroad advising makes students feel prepared for the challenges and complexities that await them, offers them support throughout their time abroad, and fosters continued growth and learning when students return home.

Effective education abroad advising approaches students with a focus on their strengths and unique identities. Through the use of open-ended questions and advising models like appreciative advising, it empowers students to make informed choices that will advance their learning and development throughout the abroad experience while also managing their expectations. Effective education abroad advising provides students with the skills and resources to take ownership of their experiences, which helps them to develop confidence, self-awareness, and decision-making and problem-solving skills.  

These Guidelines are intended for use by all who are either directly engaged in supporting students at any stage across the education abroad experience and/or are involved in the work of designing advising pathways. They can be used to train new staff and to guide conversations between education abroad professionals and their counterparts across their campuses and at partner organizations. The Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad apply to all aspects of education abroad. Use them together to develop a comprehensive approach to education abroad advising. 

For additional guidance for specific program types, we also encourage you to review the other offerings in The Forum’s series of Guidelines. 

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