There is one thing about Moravian that stands out to me compared to every other college I looked into, and one thing that my friends from other schools tell me they’re jealous of: the Moravian travel experience.
For many, studying abroad, whether for a short- or long-term trip, seems unattainable and too expensive ever to consider. However, Moravian’s Center for Global Education (CGE) offers various opportunities for students to travel, no matter their major.
So, I would like first to acknowledge the various opportunities that students have at Moravian. So many of my friends, whether they chose not to attend college or to attend another school, have never left the country, and Moravian provides the opportunity for almost everyone to study abroad.
Even if you are incredibly involved, whether that be in sports, an intensive major, internship or job, the CGE can likely help you find a way to study abroad in some way. There are short-term programs that take place during spring, winter or summer break.
Moravian’s Elevate Travel Credit opens the door to global experiences by giving students up to $2,800 toward short-term study abroad programs. Many programs are fully covered by this cost, excluding insurance, food, and miscellaneous expenses.
Open Doors reported that only 1%-2.7% of college students study abroad for credit annually – this statistic is stunning to me.
Studying abroad, beyond just being fun, expands your empathy, emotional horizons, and ability to understand the world beyond your immediate surroundings. It pushes you out of routine and into unfamiliar spaces, where you are forced to adapt, listen more closely, and reconsider what you thought was normal. That kind of growth is difficult, if not impossible, to replicate in a traditional classroom setting.
I’ve taken countless classes on cultures outside of America, including language courses, but I learned more in the week I spent in one country than in those semesters’ worth of information. You simply cannot recreate the feeling of being in a foreign country, let alone without your family – it teaches you that you can do so much more than you ever thought possible.
What makes Moravian’s travel opportunities especially valuable is not just that they exist, but that they are intentionally designed to be accessible. It would be a completely different situation if Moravian’s CGE offered these travel courses without offering any aid, but the Elevate Travel Credit allows almost any student to participate, regardless of finances.
Study abroad has historically been reserved for students with financial flexibility, but Moravian actively works to overcome that barrier. When a short-term program can be largely covered through Moravian’s financial support, the conversation shifts from affording the trip to choosing where you want to go.
These experiences are not a one-size-fits-all: there are various trips to different countries, all tied to academic disciplines, cultural immersion and real-world learning. Whether a student is studying business, education, political science, or the arts, there is a way to connect global experience to their field.
It’s easy for colleges to talk about preparing students for the “real world,” but travel programs like these actively place students in it, and short-term trips are not limited to one type of student. Students do not have to be fluent in another language, have extensive travel experience, or fit a specific academic mold to enroll on a trip. If anything, students are encouraged to expand their horizons and step outside their comfort zone.
The CGE meets students where they are and helps them take that first step, whether it is a week-long program or a full semester abroad. Moravian’s travel opportunities expand perspectives, build confidence, and create lasting memories that extend far beyond a résumé.
So, this week’s praise goes to the Center for Global Education and everyone who works to make these opportunities possible; for many students, these programs are more than trips: they are the first step into seeing the world outside of America, and these experiences provide a confidence that is almost impossible to recreate in a classroom setting.
