Student Exchange Program
Student Exchange Programs have become quite popular in the recent past with colleges and universities opting to send their best students to other institutions and nations, and welcoming the ones from other places. It is an opportunity of a lifetime for a student. Earlier it was an exchange process but today a student is sent to a foreign institution without necessarily getting one in exchange.
Student Exchange Program was initiated with the prime motive of interaction and cultural dissemination. As students are the future of any country and the world, it was felt necessary to allow them a scope to imbibe the world heritage to make them tolerant and spread goodwill. Students who return from an exchange program usually acquire greater knowledge about the host country and are found to be enthusiastic to explore newer dimensions. They not only learn the new culture but are also upholders of their nation’s uniqueness. They educate the native students on their customs, traditions and history. So it is a two way process that seeks fulfillment through this program.
The students usually stay within the university campus, funded by the host nation. In the campus, the exchange student gets to interact and stay with fellow students of that institution. But in some countries like USA, families also welcome students to live with them. They adopt the student for the period of stay and treat them with utmost care and respect. This provides a first hand knowledge about the country of visit.
The time period of stay varies form six months to a year. In some cases it may be the whole span of a particular course. Many colleges of Delhi University in India, provide deserving students the opportunity to study abroad mostly at the post graduate level. This augments and catapults their education. Foreign universities also offer scholarships to the exchange students. At the post graduate level, the lucky ones who are sent forth enjoy a scholarship from their college that helps them fund education abroad. This sum may be the full amount of the fee or a considerable part of it.
On the educational front, students learn the subjects that is taught in that particular college or university at that point of time of stay. It is often a short span of time where the particular institute tries to impart an understanding of that subject to the student. The latter attends classes like other students, makes presentations, attends seminars and talks, and even appears for the exam. They are in no way treated like a foreign student or guest. This helps them get a clear view of the pattern of study in that university. Generally the host institute arranges for trips and excursions to aid the understanding of the student. They are taken to various destinations across the country and the city which lends a knowing of the culture of the nation. This is apart from the regular studies. The aim of this is to not restrict the student to bookish knowledge. It seeks to gift a broad spectrum of knowledge. Also it is an opportunity for the student to interact with locals and not only those within the campus. When the student goes back, he should have something more to share apart from the course subjects.
The exchange students are treated with utmost care. They do not have to worry about their visa or cost of stay. It is a funded holiday that is not mere enjoyment but an educational trip that is of great utility in life. When a college sends someone abroad for such a program that gives beyond measure to the student, the selection process of the college is a tough one. There may be many able students but to narrow down to one or a handful is a tedious procedure. The college has to make sure that the one who will be sent is the most deserving candidate and will be a representative of the college as well as the nation. It also has to make sure that the student does not commit any misdeed in the foreign college which may stain the reputation of the college and the nation. So it is necessary to be strict in the selection. The student selected is thus the best choice.
Student Exchange Programs have come up in a big way after the World Wars when it was felt necessary by the nations of the world to create a means of interaction between them. This was one of the best ways to be discovered. Today as more students become a part of this heritage, it makes the world a closely knit entity that ensures welfare and amicability amongst participating nations. There is a dire need to increase this keeping in mind the condition of the world today. We need to understand that this will help minimize the negativity on the globe and create everlasting cordial relationships.