Is study abroad as beneficial as is reputed? | University World News

"A study by the Danish Evaluation Institute has shown that both study-relevant work and participation in project-oriented courses have a significant positive effect upon the chances of Danish masters students landing a job upon graduation and the salary received, while a study abroad period does not have as positive an effect on work chances or salary after graduation." inform Jan Petter Myklebust.

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The Danish Evaluation Institute, or EVA, working under the Ministry for Children, Education and Gender Equality, monitors the effect of Danish education programmes. In June, EVA published a report (in Danish) entitled Effects of Study-relevant Work, Study Exchanges and Project-oriented Courses: An effect analysis of masters candidates’ options at universities.

The study findings were presented with a provocative press release: “Drop study abroad and find relevant work besides your studies or a practice-oriented course if you want a job soon after graduation.”

From the Danish central statistical archives and information from universities, data for all masters candidates graduating during the period 2009-12 were examined in terms of three parameters: whether they had participated in work-related activities during their studies, if they had participated in project-oriented courses or if they had participated in merit-giving study abroad during their studies.

There were two parts to the study: 28,921 graduates were included in the work part of the study and 22,665 in the salary part. These numbers differed because the studies were undertaken at different points in time.

Findings
Those candidates who engaged in study-relevant work were 10% to 20% more likely to find employment in the year after graduation than those who did not. This was the case in four out of five study disciplines – in the humanities, the social sciences, the natural sciences and in technology, but not in health studies.

The study also found that more students who had engaged in study-relevant work, or study-relevant work in combination with project-oriented coursework or a study abroad period, achieved a positive salary effect within 12 months of graduation. This was the case in the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences, with an increased salary range between DKK1,295 (US$195) and DKK4,659 (US$700) a month compared to students who had not undertaken study-relevant work.
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Source: University World News