Civil Engineering Alumni Go Far Beyond

Kennedy Ezumah’s Full Response

CIV Program - If an engineering student is considering spending considerable time abroad, either as an exchange student or after graduation, what do you recommend?

 For engineering students considering spending time abroad as an exchange student, I would give the following advice:

1. First, take some time to think about your goals. What type of experience are you looking to have? Are you interested in immersing in a foreign culture and learning a new language? Does doing research or engaging in an internship abroad interest you? Are you looking to take classes at a foreign university? Or do you simply want to go somewhere new and unfamiliar? There is no right answer––all of these are perfectly valid motivations! What is most important is determining what your specific goals are, so that you can begin planning how to work towards them.
2. Second, once you have identified your why, start researching local opportunities and programs. For international programs, it's best to begin your research about (1) year before your intended departure. A great place to start is your local university. Stony Brook University has a study abroad office that has a number of international programs and helpful staff who can help you plan your experience and see how it fits into your schedule. For engineering students, this can sometimes be a challenge, though, as strict lab and course sequences make it difficult for students to spend a full semester away without delaying graduation. Thankfully, university leaders are realizing the need for integrating study abroad opportunities into the engineering curriculum and have begun implementation. Over the years, departments in Stony Brook University's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS) have created exciting programs that have enabled students to travel to places such as Kenya and China. Be sure to check out the CEAS to learn what opportunities are currently available.
3. Third, expand your research to include national and international programs, grants, and scholarships.Studying abroad is not cheap and oftentimes the cost factor makes it inaccessible for students. Thankfully, there exists a plethora of grants and scholarship programs that enable you to have a life-changing experience for free. Programs such as the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS), the Boren Scholarship, and the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship all provide fully-funded grants. state.gov is also a useful directory of State Department-funded programs. 

For engineering students considering spending time abroad after graduation, I would recommend the following: 

1. Consider taking some off to travel before diving into your first job. If you have some funds available, the summer (or winter) after graduation is a perfect time to travel somewhere new for some weeks (or months). Traveling after graduation is an opportunity to tackle a new and exciting challenge and get your fill of adventure and perspective before you enter the working world. Plan a backpacking trip with some friends, visit family in a foreign place, or simply go solo. Today, there are tons of tools and resources that simplify the process of planning transportation, accommodation, and itineraries. Take advantage of this long stretch of time that you have to yourself, as three-month vacation blocks are rare in the professional world! 
2. Take advantage of breaks in-between jobs. Throughout your career consider taking a few weeks (or more) in between jobs to travel and explore.  
3. Remain open to opportunities to weave in travel into your professional life. The global economy is becoming increasingly digitized, which means digital skills and trends such as remote work will make it easier for folks to live more mobile lives. There are opportunities at the intersection of engineering and technology that will allow you to exercise more freedom in your location as you work. Traditional engineering career paths also offer opportunities for travel: large, multinational companies often have rotational programs and training schemes that allow you to live abroad for extended periods of time. 

Spending time abroad is an enriching experience that is sure to broaden your perspective and yield returns over the course of your life, no matter what professional path you choose to pursue. I hope you have found this helpful!