THE INTERSECTION OF EDUCATION ABROAD AND CAREER READINESS, AND THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATORS

Education abroad (EA), embracing long- and short-term international study, is potentially such a transformational juncture in life that its significance may be viewed analogously as a motivational vehicle, serving to carry students along an educational continuum. International educators (IEs) comprise both scholars and practitioners (many spanning both spheres) working eruditely to advance comprehensive internationalization and to develop and implement meaningful international education programming. Nevertheless, this chapter introduces a new challenge for IEs, namely to further support students by leveraging EA to enhance their career readiness and employability. It proposes that IEs must communicate the relevance and impact of EA on career readiness and employability, especially given the increasing evidence that EA enhances motivation, confidence, and other soft skills. From the contributors experiences and observations, IEs increasingly are finding themselves at the intersection of higher education and the broader community.