A Country’s Facets in Foreign Exchange Programs

            Today, countries have started developing links with other countries for peace, support, and unity. With that, countries like the Philippines have started to promote international links with other countries like the US, Japan, and many more. But in order to maintain that link with other countries, the country should have activities that would involve others. One example is by having foreign exchange studies between the countries. 

            Foreign exchange studies is a system wherein one country sends their students to study in another country for a time duration, while in the same time students from the other country are sent in the first country to learn too.

            Having foreign exchange programs offered in a specific country to study abroad gives a lot of benefits to the country, even if it may a short-term or a long-term benefit.

            One of the benefits the country can get from the student’s exchange experience is that it promotes cultural understanding between the involved countries. Foreign students who will be studying here will understand his host country’s cultures, traditions, food, and more. On the other hand, students from the other country who will be sent abroad to study will also learn the culture and values of other countries, which will later develop them to understand and appreciate each other’s cultures. Students who finished their studies from abroad will then be the people to impart their experience to their fellow citizens, which will soon result to abolishing those stereotypes that have been building on the people of both countries.

            Another benefit that a country will get from foreign study is that it builds greater minds, especially from the youth. With the help of foreign exchange studies, students who will be sent to study abroad will be able to learn a lot of things to their fullest potential, and also learn additional information and things not taught in their country. With this, the country can be able to produce excellent students, which will be able to greatly contribute to the country’s progress in the future.

            Lastly, having a foreign exchange program in a country is one way of advertising your country. Sending the best chosen students to represent the country abroad, they will be the persons who will be talking about the country, the good places to go to, the best food in town, and much more. They will be the ones who will be attracting the foreigners to come to the country to see for themselves how beautiful the said country is.

            These are just few of the many benefits of a foreign exchange program. Although the cost that would be incurred may be great, but hey, no cost is too big to measure experience. In the end, it will be everyone who will benefit with more educated and well-rounded minds.

(Picture above is the GREET 2012, welcome party of new students in ICU. Majority in the group I was in were foreign exchange students. :))