In coordination with the Come as You Arkansas celebration on campus today, Friday, Sept. 10, the Office of Study Abroad is hosting two events in conjunction with their "Humans of #HogsAbroad" campaign. Throughout the summer, former international travelers have shared stories through the @hogsabroad Instagram account, celebrating the life-changing opportunities that international education has provided U of A students and alumni. 

The stories provide personal accounts from students, staff and faculty who have participated in study abroad, informing and inspiring students interested in future international opportunities.

The first event is a gallery display of images collected during the campaign. Guests can drop in anytime to view the gallery showcase on the Union side of Mullins Library, with Humans of #HogsAbroad stories on canvas, through photography and written reflection. 

The second event is an interactive conversation between former travelers and those who are considering international travel in the future. The "Humans of #HogsAbroad Speed Dating" event will take place from 11 a.m. to noon on the North Pavilion at the Student Union, pairing recent study abroad students with alumni to hear first-hand accounts of "aha" moments from abroad and treasured artifacts from students' time abroad.

"We are excited to use the university's anniversary celebration to show students what study abroad can mean for a person, and we know that personal stories and vibrant images will help convey that message to students," said Sarah Malloy, director of study abroad and international exchange.  

While travel has been limited during COVID-19, there are current and future programs available that can provide life-changing experiences for U of A students, both in-person and virtually, Malloy said. "We want to remind our campus community that study abroad programs across the globe, as well as our Rome Center, have reopened using safety protocols and practices to protect students from the risks of COVID-19. We hope these events will spark renewed interest for students in what we already know to be true: that study abroad is an exceptionally relevant high-impact experience that can be accessible to all U of A students."   

About the Office of Study Abroad & International Exchange: The mission of Study Abroad and International Exchange is to facilitate opportunities to prepare University of Arkansas students to live and succeed in a global society. Study abroad enables students to develop critical skills needed to compete in today's global economy, including foreign language fluency, strong problem-solving and analytical capability, a tolerance for ambiguity, and cross-cultural competence. National studies show a positive correlation between students who study abroad and higher grade-point averages and degree completion rates.