“Create, share, and apply knowledge to make lowa and the World a better place. ” That is the mission of lowa State according to lowa State University’s strategic plan. All the classes, clubs, and organizations are made to help lowa State reach its mission. Iowa State must have students that can conduct research to solve the problems of this century. The students have to be able to communicate in order to share their findings with other people. Finally, they must be able to apply what they have learned in real world situations to either solve problems or improve a product.
The one organization that I feel supports lowa State’s mission the most is the Study Abroad Center. According to the Study Abroad Center at lowa State, their mission is to, “Articulate to the ISU community the need for and benefits of experiencing the world beyond our shores and borders. Provide assistance to students in identifying programs best suited to their needs and interests. Prepare students to meet the challenges of an international experience and develop programs that provide opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to explore other countries.
Through their mission they have to support lowa State’s mission to benefit the university and its students. ISU Study Abroad. png It is helpful if you study abroad during your freshman or sophomore year because then you have more options with your schedule, but any student can study abroad. Even if you don’t have a friend going with you, you will meet so many people considering 1300 students of all ages studied abroad last year alone. You never know, they could end up being life long friends.
It doesn’t matter what your major is, there is a study abroad trip for you. If you want to get out of the country, but only for a while, there are trips that only last ten days. These trips are great if you want to see the scenery the world has to offer. If you are looking to get away for a long time, there are trips that last a full academic year. If you really want to learn about different cultures, it would be in your best interest to go on one of the longer trips. Wherever you want to go, odds are, you can go there.
The most popular programs are in Australia, Costa Rica, Greece, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales. These are all great options, but just because they are the most popular doesn’t mean you have to go there. You can go anywhere and you won’t be alone! Study abroad is also on the uprise. More and more students are looking to go on these trips to further their knowledge of the world. study abroad. jpg There are many different reasons for why you should study abroad. First off, globalization is here to stay.
The world is working together more than it ever has before, and students who want to work in our interconnected world should study abroad. When employers are looking to hire, they love to find people who have studied abroad. Studying abroad is the most effective mean for students to develop needed skills because it gets them out of their comfort zone. People like to stick to what they know, and it is hard to learn anything new if you don’t put yourself out there. On study abroad trips you get to experience new cultures, environments, languages, and educational systems.
The students get to see diversity from culture to culture firsthand. Through your first hand perspective you create new views and ideas on how the world works. While you are on your trip you practice these views and ideas so when you come back you can share them with your peers or coworkers. The knowledge you gained will somehow have a positive impact on your life and possibly the lives of others. This fits perfectly with supporting lowa State’s mission because you create new knowledge, share the knowledge, and then apply the knowledge o your everyday life.
Not only does lowa State have to support its own mission, it has to follow the rules of a land grant. Without land grants, lowa State would not be the university it is today. A land grant is a grant of public land normally towards an institution, or an organization. In 1862 the first Morrill Act was set into place in the form of a land grant. The main purpose of the grant was to teach agriculture, military tactics, and the mechanic arts so members of the working class could obtain an education.
These were the original guidelines that the university had to follow in order to receive the grant. Iowa State supports the Morrill Act because we are a large agricultural and mechanical arts university. Through lowa State’s mission they are able to meet the needs of the Morrill Act. Through study abroad you gain experiences you never would have dreamed of. It will help you in every aspect of your life. It is a fun organization that supports lowa State’s mission. Through lowa State’s mission the land grant is supported, and that is what makes lowa State the university it is today.