The annual Study Abroad Fair organized by the Office of International Programs has long been a resource for Boston College students interested in taking a semester or academic year at a college or university in another country, or participating in BC faculty-led summer programs and internships abroad. But to accommodate pandemic-related safety restrictions, this fall the OIP has reimagined the fair, hosting a series of virtual sessions called “eNav”—and adding an important focus in the process.
These eNav sessions are aimed at helping Boston College students navigate their study-abroad journey within the context of the University’s Jesuit mission. Discussion topics in these sessions include how studying abroad fits into one’s academic vision, discerning the reasons for studying in another country, and the potential impact of the experience on one’s self-identity.
Students participate in a recent eNav session designed to help them navigate their study abroad journeys.
“Our aim has been to help students really interrogate why they want to go overseas,” said OIP Director Nick Gozik. “The Study Abroad Fair was really for students to look at individual programs, and we thought that these eNav sessions were a way to flip the sequence: Many of the sessions that we’re holding are not about specific locations or countries, but the whole experience of going abroad.”
Among the sessions have been “How Does My CSOM Major/Minor Fit into Studying Abroad?,” “Global Health Perspectives,” and “Exploring Identities: I Am an AHANA Student—Is Studying Abroad for Me?”
During the “Exploring Identities” session, AHANA students who have returned to campus after studying abroad reflected on their experiences and shared advice with AHANA students interested in going overseas.
“The students were really engaged and they had lots of great questions,” said Gozik of the event he co-led with Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs Akua Sarr. “I think that they were inspired as a result.”
“This idea of taking stock of one’s life, thinking about where one has been, where one is, and where one is going, and understanding that we’re part of a larger world fits perfectly within the Jesuit mission and set of values.”
The emphasis the OIP has placed on discernment and intentionality aligns with the Jesuit values of Boston College, according to Gozik.
“This idea of taking stock of one’s life, thinking about where one has been, where one is, and where one is going, and understanding that we’re part of a larger world fits perfectly within the Jesuit mission and set of values.”
Despite the uncertainty about international travel this academic year, the OIP has still been doing the necessary work to get students to their international destinations if circumstances allow it, and to promote the discussions and contemplation required for students to decide why they should pursue international education. Gozik said 600 students have formally undertaken the process to study abroad, including those who have participated in eNav.
eNav is a collaborative effort organized by a wide array of Boston College departments and offices under the direction of the OIP. To view upcoming events, see bc.edu/enav.
Christine Balquist | University Communications | October 2020