Closing the Skills Gap with Study Abroad

IFSA | September 15, 2025

As parents, students, and employers clamor for higher education to deliver on career preparation, IFSA is here to help. From specialized programs that target specific sectors to incorporating resume enhancing experiences in traditional study abroad, count on us to help your students get workforce ready.  

Industry-specific programs 

IFSA Career Accelerators provide opportunities to prepare for a future in AI, finance, entrepreneurship, medicine, marketing, cybersecurity, data science, software, pharmaceuticals, and more. These innovative programs feature project challenges, where students work with professionals from companies to advance and problem solve—and gain impressive experience along the way.  

At our tech-focused program in Prague, students have analyzed commercial testing technologies, used AI to investigate how to increase public transport efficiency, and developed an algorithm to detect a specific allergic reaction.  

Career Accelerators blend all of this with credit-bearing academics, company visits, expert speakers, networking events, and an internship option—an ideal way to gain relevant work experience.  

“Adam at Creative Dock was all you could ask for in a supervisor/mentor,” said Ibrahima K., a student who completed an internship in Prague during the spring program. “He made me realize I could work in a low-supervision environment by building self-starter skills and gave me good advice on progressing in the field.”  

“You’ve given me a lot to work with for my future,” Ibrahima said of our Tech Accelerator team. 

Immersive internships 

Traditional study abroad can also serve as a key career stepping stone. From gaining clinical experience at a veterinary hospital in Buenos Aires to conducting industrial analysis in Shanghai, internships are a great way to gain valuable professional experience (and deepen cultural immersion). We offer them as electives through 17 IFSA semester programs and seven summer programs.  

Butler University student Cassia C. completed the University of Westminster program in Spring 2025 and called her London internship with startup Chakow the most valuable part of her experience.  

“My internship was directly tied to my major in strategic communications,” said Cassia, whose responsibilities included managing social media accounts, writing press releases, and interacting with influences and media outlets. “I really enjoyed getting to experience a different work culture and environment, and I gained relevant knowledge and experience for my future endeavors.” 

International correspondents 

Select students can supplement their study abroad journey with a stipend in exchange for providing content from their experiences that encourages others to explore IFSA programs.  

The IFSA Student Marketing Correspondents program gives students a chance to show published work, as well as practice working on deadlines with direction from our marketing team.  

“This role supported my professional goals by giving me the opportunity to work on my communication skills and learn how to develop content for a wide audience,” said Zach D., a student from Skidmore College who completed a semester at The University of Melbourne in Australia last spring.  

“I got an in-depth look on how a future in the field could look like,” added Joshua D., a Grinnell College student who completed spring semester in Mérida, Mexico. “I was able to explore whether or not the career was a good fit for me, and add to my portfolio of pictures and videos.”  

Maximizing skills that matter in the market 

Study abroad is compelling on any resume. To drive this home, at end of program workshops, IFSA helps students showcase the value of their newfound skills like problem-solving, self-reliance, and cultural awareness to prospective employers.  

As an organization that’s focused on helping students shape international experiences that advance them toward their goals—personal, academic, and professional—we care deeply about career prep. If you have specific career-related skills or industries that your university or college would like to help students advance in, let’s talk!