Mexico City.- Although the Covid-19 pandemic initially motivated the suspension of face-to-face student exchanges, is currently feasible in certain nations with the corresponding sanitary precautions, indicate specialists.
According to Liliana Álvarez Tostado, director of International Affairs at the Universidad Panamericana, inoculation and strategies to mitigate contagion risks have been key aspects to achieve its reactivation.
“Ideally, young people should have a complete vaccination schedule with substances approved by the World Health Organization and endorsed by the destination country,” he says. “They should know how the pandemic has behaved in that region and the prevention measures established.”
Knowing in advance the current entry policies will allow students to determine if they should get a booster dose, quarantine upon arrival or seek vaccination with a specific agent to ensure their entry into the destination country.
Have an international medical expense insurance that covers illnesses and accidents is essential, he adds.
To the above, Francisco Huerta, director of the Tec’s International Operation Administration, adds the requirement for diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 and to be aware of the latest decrees regarding the opening and closing of borders.
“Although most countries are receiving foreign students, young people should find out on the orientation page of their university or directly at the embassy of the country in which they want to study what the entry requirements are, as there is no standard”, clarify.
“They must be aware that new variants or spikes in infections may occur, which could affect their plans.”
In this context, the expert recommends that those interested reflect on whether they will be willing to resume virtual classes outside of Mexico, isolate themselves or return before the end of the established period.
“Openness and flexibility are required in the face of the situation we are experiencing,” he says.
Relevant aspects
Roberto Pozos Cuéllar, coordinator of the La Salle International Education Center, advises planning this experience a year in advance in order to carry out the corresponding procedures and gather the resources to undertake the trip.
“It is always necessary to make savings and review both the scholarships and the support that can finance their transfer, stay and maintenance,” adds the academic.
Likewise, Pozos Cuéllar suggests investigating the existence and validity of bilateral agreements that cover the cost of tuition or allow the extension of its payment in the destination institution.
Huerta, on the other hand, confirms the relevance of having a current language certificate that guarantees mastery of the language in which the classes will be taught, as well as knowing enough of the local language to satisfy basic needs and the expected climate in the region during the stay.
While Álvarez Tostado, director of the UP, highlights the importance of carefully choosing the educational institution in which the exchange will take place.
virtual alternative
According to José Manuel Paez, Tec’s vice-rector for Internationalization, the reactivation of face-to-face exchanges will not displace or replace advances in virtual mobility, since the latter offers a viable alternative for those who do not have the necessary financial resources or do not wish to carry out the procedures described.
This, in turn, will allow expanding the number of students and workers with access to new knowledge, methodologies and experiences with people from different latitudes.
“We want the resumes of each career to be more international and that each individual has the opportunity to do an exchange, virtual or face-to-face,” he says.
This vision is shared by Pozos Cuéllar, coordinator at La Salle University, who assures that universities will not only continue to strengthen and adapt both modalities to new circumstances, but will also be able to merge to maximize the advantages of internationalization and interculturality.
They reinforce actions
To maximize experiences, universities work on new exchange strategies addressed to its academic community.
La Salle, for example, plans to implement this 2022 a new mobility scheme for both students and workers: reciprocity scholarships.
According to Pozos Cuéllar, the program will start with 12 supports; It will cover transportation, lodging and food expenses of the beneficiaries in a Latin American country, such as Brazil, Colombia or Peru.
Meanwhile, the UP participates in the COIL project, in which two professors from different study houses collaborate to give a class together. On the one hand, this allows students to access new perspectives and ways of working at no extra cost, while on the other hand, teachers receive the necessary training to carry out these educational sessions.
The Tec plans to increase the number of total scholarships for short periods, such as summers, and partial ones in order to expand the number of students and teachers who travel abroad.
career boost
According to Sergio Porragas, Director of Operations at OCCMundial, experiences abroad are highly valued by companies seeking new talent.
“Regardless of the CV or the career they are studying, recruiters place great value on people who are looking to give an extra, who go out of the box and who go beyond the knowledge taught at their alma mater.”
Leadership, adaptation to change, resilience and collaboration in multifunctional teams are some of the skills they develop.
For the specialist, there is no distinction between virtual or face-to-face exchanges when applying for a vacancy, since the acquisition of knowledge and the improvement of skills do not depend on the physical transfer.
“The pandemic opened up a range of opportunities for all people who seek to develop (.) through educational platforms,” he says.
“Knowledge is at everyone’s fingertips and priority is given to people who continue to update and study,” he adds.
According to the international ranking QS Best Student Cities 2022, the seven best cities to study are:
London
- This city in the United Kingdom concentrates 18 houses of higher education, two of which are among the 10 best in the world, according to the QS World University Rankings 2022: Imperial College London and University College London.
- It is an attractive option as it offers lower tuition costs than in the United States and allows foreign students to work full time during their vacations and up to 20 hours per week during the rest of the school year.
Munich
- Located in Germany, it has more affordable prices than other European cities. It also offers a good quality of life and it is easy to move from one place to another.
- Its public universities do not charge tuition fees for undergraduate programs, and students from outside the European Union can work 120 days per school year; Upon graduation, they are allowed to extend their residence permit for up to 18 months to look for a job if they wish.
seoul
- The capital of South Korea is positioned for the strong reputation of its graduates nationally and internationally, as well as for hosting nearly 40 universities, including Korea University and Yonsei University.
- It has become an attractive destination due to the high presence of technology companies. International students can apply for a work permit for up to 20 hours a week during school years and without restrictions on holidays.
tokyo
- Being a relevant financial center, the Japanese capital promises numerous opportunities for corporate internships. Part of its appeal is due to the quality of life it offers, as well as the high standards of cleanliness and safety provided to its inhabitants.
- Regarding employment, students with permission from the Ministry of Justice can work a maximum of 8 hours per day and 28 hours per week during school holidays.
berlin
- In addition to hosting renowned schools, such as the Free University of Berlin, this city has captured the attention of international students thanks to the many language courses taught in its institutions, mainly postgraduate courses.
- Added to the above is an excellent quality of life, transportation, medical coverage and low rental costs. As in Munich, public universities do not charge tuition fees at the undergraduate level.
melbourne
- Considered the cultural capital of Australia, this oceanic city is home to renowned educational centers such as the University of Melbourne, Monash University and Victoria University.
- Regarding its work policies, it allows foreign students to work up to 20 hours a week during the school year; there is no time limit on vacation. In addition, when they graduate they can request a special permit that allows them to live and work for up to four more years.
Zurich
- Located in Switzerland, this city has two outstanding higher education institutions: the Federal Polytechnic School of Zurich or ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich. Economically, it is a city with high daily expenses that are offset by low tuition.
- University students can work up to 15 hours a week during the semester and full time during the holidays, but only after having resided in Swiss territory for at least six months.
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