OP-ED

*NOTE THAT THIS OP-ED WAS A PR INTENSIVE WRITING COURSE ASSIGNMENT AND IS NOT FOR A REAL ORGANIZATION

FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT, I HAD TO WRITE AN OP-ED FOR THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR NEWSPAPER WITH MY OPINION ON THIS HYPOTHETICAL PROPOSAL. ALL WORK IS IN AP STYLE.

Indiana University’s Frustrating Proposal to Internationalize PR Education

As a study abroad alum and senior at Indiana University concentrating in public relations, I do not support The Media School’s proposed plan to incorporate international experiences into the PR curriculum. 

It is impossible to overlook the substantial problems raised by this proposal, which requires students with a public relations concentration to spend a semester overseas. While there is no denying that studying abroad can enrich one’s perspective and provide worthwhile experiences, there are several concerns with making it a mandatory requirement for all PR students.

The suggested modification ignores many of the real difficulties that students might have if they are forced to spend a whole semester studying overseas. There is the financial strain that students may face if they do not get a scholarship, the possibility of incompatibilities between teaching techniques overseas, and the lack of accommodations for students experiencing personal problems.

First and foremost, it is important to recognize the financial consequences of requiring students to spend a semester overseas. Even for a single semester, studying abroad is a costly undertaking.

I know that for myself and many others, going abroad was advertised to have the same tuition, and for many others, even less than that of classes at campus. However, upon returning, these costs ended up being $12,000 more than my normal tuition rates. Had my parents not been able to help me cover these costs, I would have been in financial trouble, adding to the stresses of everyday life.

While some other programs may be more affordable, according to a national survey of abroad students from CNBC, the average cost of going abroad was $16,368. For students in their families, daily living expenses, housing, transportation, and tuition can quickly add up, placing a heavy financial strain on them that may not be worth the experience.

Although Indiana University claims they will have scholarships available, they are often extremely competitive and limited in nature. If the student in need does not fit the strict financial requirements or are not lucky enough to get one of these scholarships, students will likely find it difficult to pay for their education abroad and can even put themselves under more financial strain.

This is especially troubling because the proposed plan seems to disregard the financial limitations that students have, which could make concentrating in public relations an unaffordable option for those unable to pay for abroad.

Additionally, every culture has expectations, practices, and traditions when it comes to schooling, so there are often major differences between educational environments and teaching techniques in foreign countries. This difference might be somewhat difficult and frustrating for students, as they were not taught the same in america.

While adjusting to new teaching methods might be beneficial, it can also seriously impede a student's ability to advance academically. I can personally attest to variations in instructional strategies and learning techniques having studied in Barcelona last semester. Thus, enforcing all PR concentration studies to work out these educational gaps on their own may increase stress levels and jeopardize their chances of academic success.

Finally, it is impossible to overlook how rigid the proposal is when it comes to private matters. Students may encounter a range of personal obstacles that make living abroad unfeasible due to the unpredictability of life.

Due to this rigidity, students could be pushed into circumstances for which they are not psychologically or practically prepared, which could have a detrimental effect on both their personal and academic lives. Personal problems that affect a student’s capacity to succeed in a foreign setting include health troubles, family situations, and even emotional well-being.

Although there is no denying the advantage in having a global perspective, it is easier now more than ever to study other cultures and experience them through video and virtual conversations. On top of that, requiring a semester abroad for all PR students ignores the variety of student situations and possible drawbacks.

Proponents of the proposed plan might highlight the opportunities for students to grow personally and adapt to other cultures. The problem, though, isn't with the experience itself, rather, it's with the expensive and sometimes disruptive mandate that ignores the needs and limitations of everyone.

There is some truth to the claim that encountering difficulties overseas fosters flexibility. However, putting every PR student in the scenario ignores the enormous financial strain and the possible negative effects on  academic achievement brought on by the variations in teaching methods. Practically speaking, flexibility is necessary, but it shouldn't come at the price of a student's academic or financial security.

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