Study Abroad While Studying Abroad

Khalifa al Dhaen doesn’t like to get stuck in a “comfort zone.” A senior at the University of San Diego (USD), Al Dhaen ventured far from his home in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to study mechanical engineering. But he wanted to broaden his experience of world cultures. So in January, he went on a three-week, faculty-led study abroad course to London. 

“It was a study abroad-abroad,” jokes Al Dhaen, who is majoring in mechanical engineering and double-minoring in leadership and mathematics. “I felt like I wanted to explore more places [than just the U.S.]. People around the world think differently, and no two cultures are the same. I feel it’s really important for my leadership skills and to learn to communicate to expose myself to as many cultures as possible.” 

Al Dhaen aspires to someday work for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and he believes the exposure to European culture will give him a competitive edge in the job market. 

“The UAE has many partnerships in several countries, including in Europe,” Al Dhaen says. “If I expose myself to these countries, I can better understand where the people come from and how they think. That will help me make better partnerships.” 

International Students Looking for Broad Global Experiences 

The 2015 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange reports that the number of international students at U.S. colleges and universities increased by 10 percent to a record high of 974,926 students during the 2014–15 academic year—the highest rate