The ROI of Studying Abroad

Studying abroad in college can be an exciting opportunity to tour another country and immerse yourself in a culture much different than your own. However, studying abroad isn’t cheap, especially depending on where you choose to travel. In your new country, you’ll need money for classes, housing, food, transportation and more. Beyond the fun you’ll have and the memories you’ll make, is the cost of spending time in another country worth it in the long run?

Studies say yes.

Attending college abroad can have a positive impact on your career goals, marketable skills, and employability.

The first and primary impact that studying abroad makes on the lives of students is that it changes and broadens their post-college career goals. 14% of students who studied abroad said the trip had made a minor difference, while 35% said it made a notable difference. A whopping 20% said it made a significant difference.

Although the job market might be slowly improving, it is more important than ever to stand out from other applicants however possible. Research shows that studying abroad gives students additional qualifications that cab improve their chances of landing a position. The desire to work internationally is so strong that studies show 58% of students who have studied abroad are actively pursuing careers in other countries.

Unfortunately, even the most impressive resume only serves as a way toland you an interview, and it is that curcial first meeting that determines whether or not a candidate is hireable. During the interview process, students who have studied abroad can start compelling conversations about their experiences, showcasting the breadth of their perspective and highlighting their impressive credentials.

 

 

Get to know the EU beyond the economic crisis

The European Union is a unique political and economic partnership among 27 democracies united in their commitment to peace, democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. The EU’s member states have shared some of their powers with EU institutions, and many decisions are now made at the European level.

5 important things to know about the EU:

1. The European Union has delivered more than 60 years of peace, stability, and prosperity in Europe, and has responded proactively to international crises through foreign development policies and dozens of civilian and military crisis management and conflict prevention operations around the world.

2. The EU is the United States’ most important partner in terms of not only political and economic relations, but also in addressing global challenges like promoting energy security and efficiency, combating climate change, and helping developing nations lift themselves out of poverty.

3. The EU is the world’s largest trading bloc, accounting for almost one-fifth of global trade. The EU’s single market of more than 500 million consumers is the EU’s main economic engine, enabling most goods, services, money, and people to move freely throughout its territory.

4. The EU and its member states collectively are the largest providers of official development assistance around the world.

5. The EU has implemented the most ambitious set of climate and energy targets anywhere in the world.

How the European Unions works:

The European Council: Made of of the hears of state or government of the Member States, along with the presidents of the European Commission and European Council, sets overall EU policy and is the highest political authority in the EU.

European Commission: Proposes legislation, manages and implements EU policies and the budget, enforces European law, and negotiates internationally in areas falling within its jurisdiction.

Council of the EU: Adopts laws (with the EP), coordinates specified policies, develops foreign and security policy, and concludes international agreements.

European Parliament (EP): Adopts laws (with the Council of the EU), voice of EU citizens, directly elected by the people.

get to know the european union infographic

The Psychology of Music

There’s more to why we like music than just a catchy beat or an easy karaoke tune. Dozens of receptors in our brain respond to different musical aspects like tone, rhythm and lyrics, determining the qualities we personally like and dislike. Don’t let music just go in one ear and out the other – learn how to interpret your brain’s reponse to music, the benefits of listening to it and the importance of music education.

How does music enter our brain? Music originates as vibrations, which form sound waves as they propagate through the air. The outer ear ”catches” the sound waves and direct them into the ear canal where they meet the eardrum before passing into the middle ear. Three tiny bones in the middle ear then amplify the sound waves before they enter the middle ear. Well inside the inner ear, the sound waves enter the fluid-filled cochlea, where the movement of the fluid stimulates tiny nerve cells which convert sound waves into electrical impulses. The auditory nerve then transmits the electrical impulses to the brain, where they will be interpreted as sound.

Many parts of the brain are affected by music; music involves more parts of the brain than any other function that people perform:

-          The tonality involves the prefrontal cortex, the cerebellum and the temporal lobe.

-          The lyrics involve the Wernicke’s area, Broca’s area, the visual cortex, the motor cortex and create emotional responses.

-          The rhythm involves the left frontal cortex, the left parietal cortex and the right cerebellum.

the psychology of music

Specific brainwave rhythms are associated with specific smotional and cognitive outcomes. Matching music with brain waves to induce a particulare reponse or state or mind.