Parents' Guide to International Education Programs

A support system plays a vital role throughout your student's academic journey abroad. It starts working prior to departure, is needed during their stay in the new country, and particularly after their return to their native land. As a parent, you play an important role of a 'strong support' and have a responsibility to help your student to gain the right energy level to do well in his or her academic pursuits abroad. 

It is significant to help your child to make important decisions and discuss issues like 'When to go for studying abroad?', 'Where to do the studies?', 'Which course to choose?' and other related topics with them. You also need to help them in:

• Preparing for departure,
• Ensuring a satisfying and rewarding experience while in the country abroad with a completely different culture and environment, and
• Adjusting back to the conditions and lifestyle at home after returning, which is also an important part of studying abroad.

Health and safety issues of your students should be your primary concern and you should advice them to take precautionary medications and get all the check ups done to ensure good health. To ensure that they have a peaceful trip abroad, help them to purchase insurance for personal liability, property loss and trip cancellation. You may also buy them international calling cards to save money on international calls. Monitoring your student from the beginning to the end of his or her course time abroad will encourage them to excel in their studies and perform well in their study adventure.

While your son or daughter is abroad for an educational trip, your responsibility as a parent increases. Here are some useful guidelines to help you keep informed about the basics and well-being about your student of study program overseas:

• Make a practice of calling your student at regular intervals to get the updated reports.
• The maximum number of students staying abroad go through 'cultural shock' when they step in the new country. They need to adapt themselves to the new social, economic, educational systems, food culture and climatic conditions. They need to learn usage of language to inspire confidence and maintain a balance by respecting their own culture, especially during the initial years.
• Parents can help students by familiarizing themselves and their children with cross-cultural tendencies and habits and encouraging them by healthy discussions. Your discussion should prepare them for and make them think positively about:

» Cultural adjustment, 
» Building problem-solving abilities,
» Developing flexible nature, 
» Taking initiative to learn more and more and develop their skills, and
» Making themselves highly competitive job candidates.

• Have a routine of contacting the study abroad office or the relevant office of the School or the Institute where the student is currently enrolled in, keep updated information of the events going on there and if possible, plan a trip for your student to your country during a long break.
• If your son or daughter is having a difficult time, advise him or her to make an appointment to talk with their resident director or the right person who is appointed for this purpose in the International Office of the student's College or University.