Rebecca Field

By Rebecca Field

Former students say studying at The Consortium of Universities for International Studies is not just a semester abroad, but a life-altering experience.

CIU is a non-profit organization founded in 1985 to educate students to be leaders in business and related professions in a global economy. The program gives students an opportunity to take accredited courses in English. Consortium membership includes universities from around the world. The undergraduate campus is located in Paderno del Grappa. According to Alan Ringleb, founder of CIU, classes involve coursework stressing effective thinking methods.

"CIU recognizes that students are receptive to change and that their arms are wide open," said Ringleb. "The best and the brightest should have the opportunity to see what is out there and explore their options."

Like many students, Andres Sandate, current CIU program coordinator, hesitated in 2001 to leave home and travel thousands of miles. However, after adjusting to the culture, he recognizes the personal growth he has experienced.

"I used to have an idealized view of success. Now my life is more interesting," Sandate said. "I have learned to appreciate the simple things like relationships and people."

Hayden Dyck, 2002 CIU student, agrees that students will be changed by their experience at CIU.

"My experience abroad made me different than many of my peers," he said. "I now view the world through a wider lens."

Ringleb said that the most important aspect of CIU is the experience of self-discovery. One of CIU’s goals is to force students to find out what makes them different.

"Studying abroad is about putting yourself into an unfamiliar atmosphere," he said. "The program is intended to push people in all fronts and allow them to realize their inner strengths."

Attending CIU influenced student Leah Gibbs so intensely that she decided to attend the graduate program following graduation from the University of Kansas.

"The experience shaped and sculpted me immensely," she said. "I would not be who I am today had I not challenged myself to embrace a foreign culture.

"You learn to sense the differences and question why things are done the way they are. This is a valuable asset you will carry with you for the rest of your life."

Ringleb describes CIU students as those who want more for themselves and are willing to take the risks needed to succeed. He says that they are those who have an accelerated maturity and a notion of responsibility. He predicts that 65 to 70 percent of CIU students will attend graduate school.

According to an Institute of International Education 2003 survey, 77 percent of past students report that having a study abroad experience helped them get a job after graduation.

"Many individuals at higher levels in organizations have international experience," Gibbs said. "This creates a connection and sets you apart from the rest during an interview."

While students continue to enroll, CIU is working at refining the curriculum to bring together a worldwide group of 300. Ringleb said the plan is to select about 100 students from North America, 100 European students and 100 students from other countries around the world. Students would be chosen on the basis of academic merit and career commitment. He said the plan should be in place by fall 2008.