Every year, Sinclair College gives opportunities for students of all majors to travel abroad and expand their pespective while gaining skills relevant to their careers.
There are often two to three experiences offered. Up to 16 students will travel and immerse themselves in foreign cultures, returning to Dayton with experiences they won’t forget.
Next year’s programs will be hosted in Costa Rica, Japan and South Africa. The travel dates for the Costa Rica trip are March 5-14, 2027; the Japan trip will take place in May 2027; and the South Africa trip will take place from June 2-15, 2027.
These study-abroad programs have also featured past trips to Ireland and Peru, with the trip to Japan often being the most sought-after experience.
“Students have a fascination with many things Japanese,” said Monika Daubnerova, study abroad and admissions coordinator. “Whether it’s history or manga, anime, [or] food is a big draw.”
Sinclair partners with Yamaguchi Prefectural University so students can experience the exchange component and connect with Japanese university students who are studying English.
With the majority of Sinclair’s student body being non-traditional students, finding time to travel abroad while managing full-time jobs, careers, families, and finances can be daunting.
“Our student population does not always have the luxury to go and study abroad for a semester or for a year,” Daubnerova said. “Whether it’s work commitments, family commitments, money is always a big deal… Our trips are short [with] more global exposure and experience, just to kind of enable students who would otherwise never consider traveling.”
While cost is a major concern for many of the students who apply to these programs, it is advised that students do not let money get in the way of their experiences.
“We also encourage students to get very creative and not let the money stop anyone, because study abroad requires long-term planning,” Daubnerova said.
Leaving the country opens doors for experiences that may not commonly be held domestically.
“If you ask me to sum up why studying abroad or global experiences are important, it would be perspective,” Daubnerova said.
Though it may take effort to save up for the costs of traveling internationally, there are several scholarships students can apply for. The Gilman Scholarship offers up to $5,000 for its winners to aid travel costs. The department at Sinclair will also help 25 students obtain a free passport.
Josofine Addison, staff writer
Check out more from The Clarion:
- Study abroad opens doors to new experiences
Every year, Sinclair College gives opportunities for students of all majors to travel abroad and expand their pespective while gaining… Read more: Study abroad opens doors to new experiences - The Last Queen brings the comfort of an English pub to Ohio
The British pub is often romanticized and sometimes imitated in the United States, but rarely is the authenticity of these… Read more: The Last Queen brings the comfort of an English pub to Ohio - Looking back on 140 years of learning
Imagine walking into Sinclair College 140 years ago. There would be no downtown campus as students know it today, no… Read more: Looking back on 140 years of learning - Sinclair Campus Store stops accepting cash
On Nov. 1, Sinclair College’s Campus Store in Building 7 changed its payment methods. The store, which offers course supplies,… Read more: Sinclair Campus Store stops accepting cash - Centerville career fair connects students with local employers
On Oct. 29 the Sinclair Centerville campus hosted a career fair with representatives from over 60 local employers and organizations.… Read more: Centerville career fair connects students with local employers