In March 2020, the pandemic provided a major obstacle for Stevens’ study abroad programs. In an interview with Susan Rachouh, Director of International Programs at Stevens, Rachouh stated that “students were recommended to come home” from their respective countries once travel restrictions were beginning to be placed. Since then, the Office of International Programs has worked hard to continue to provide international opportunities.
Although real travel overseas was not permitted for the previous two summers and in January 2021, there have been many opportunities to get a virtual international internship. Additionally, in January 2021, taking virtual international courses became available. These courses could contribute to a general elective requirement or a humanities requirement, for example.
Overall, approximately 100 students have participated in virtual study abroad. According to Rachouh, there has been overwhelmingly positive feedback about these virtual international programs, and many students did not expect the experience to be as rewarding as it was.
Although it was virtual, there were still ways to be immersed in the culture of other countries. To get students more involved in the cultural aspect, study abroad providers that collaborate with Stevens connected study abroad students with students from other countries. Additionally, CIS Abroad, a study abroad provider that Stevens works with, posted two Stevens students’ virtual experiences. In the summer before her junior year, senior biomedical engineer Madison Dejong, interned “with a company based in Quito, Ecuador called Robots Crate,” where she was “a design intern developing robotic prosthetic ears for people with microtia.” When talking about her experience, she said “I came into this summer with no expectations, and yet somehow the experience exceeded my expectations anyways.” Another student, Amanda Thompson ‘21, also participated in a virtual internship. Her “engineering virtual internship placement was at the Intillacta Reserve in the Choco Cloud Forest.” She “worked for Robots Crate on a solar tree project,” and more specifically, she was “focused on developing a carbon dioxide sequestration system that would be built into the tree.” About the whole experience, she said, “this experience was valuable and I’m grateful for all the people who taught me throughout this time.”
Traveling abroad resumed in September 2021. According to Rachouh, it was dependent on the “DOS (Department of State) Travel Advisory level.” Travel Advisory level 1 says to “exercise normal precautions,” level 2 says to “exercise increased caution,” level 3 says to “reconsider travel,” and level 4 is “do not travel.” “Stevens allows students to travel to Levels 1-3, but not 4.” A study abroad trip to Prague, Czech Republic in January 2022 was canceled because the COVID numbers rose to level 4.
Studying abroad is on pause for Summer 2022 due to increasing COVID numbers and different variant updates. The Office of International Programs anticipates receiving an update in early March on whether or not it will proceed for Summer 2022. Rachouh is hopeful that it will be allowed as of now, but “safety is still the first priority.”
In the meantime, the Office is still working with students to narrow down their international program options and doing other prep for it. Moreover, they are still promoting the virtual options as “some countries are just not feasible” to travel to. Nonetheless, studying abroad is popular among Stevens students. Rachouh said that she met with 18 students individually, and on average, the study abroad info sessions included 20-40 students per week. She emphasized that there is “really something for everyone, even virtually.”
Stevens also offers scholarship opportunities for international internships, called “The Four Fund,” in order to increase the accessibility of the program. There are opportunities for every major, and ultimately the office of study abroad programs is willing to work to find what is best for each student individually, regardless of the circumstance.
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