The COVID-19 global pandemic altered students’ college experiences significantly since it’s an opportunity that people want to have when they come to college. It left a lot of students disappointed and unsatisfied.
Once the pandemic occurred in the United States in March of 2020, it put an end to all near and foreseeable study abroad opportunities for students because of travel restrictions.
Almost a year later, there still seemed to be hesitations about studying abroad.
Himal Patel who is a student majoring in French was supposed to study abroad in France back in the Spring Semester of 2021 when he was a Junior. The university had to put an end to his study abroad opportunity due to safety concerns.
“Part of me really wanted to go and it was my goal of mine. Partially because I’m a French major and I would have been able to use that experience in the field and it could have helped me maybe secure a job in France if I really wanted to” said Patel.
Some students still had the opportunity to study abroad that year but only in countries where the cases were low such as the Netherlands.
“It was just disappointing because logistically it could have been covered,” said Patel.
It seemed like those who were looking to study abroad through Bradley wouldn’t be able to until it became safer to travel outside of the United States or until the end of the current global pandemic.
Now that some time has passed and with regulations being lifted, what will the future look like for the study abroad program at Bradley?
As of now, there are currently 15 students studying abroad this semester in the countries of Spain, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, and Wales.
It was unclear whether or not the Interim Programs would resume this year but the Study Abroad Office made a decision in February to allow students to travel to Ireland, Spain, and Italy in May.
“Restrictions are being lifted in Europe so we thought we should allow students to have the opportunity. Unless we are given information about restrictions, students will be able to study abroad” said Kathy Stinson, who works in the Study Abroad Office.
The January Interim will resume for the students wanting to study in England or Costa Rica in 2023. For more information about the study abroad program at Bradley visit www.bradley.edu/academic/cio/studyabroad.