Travel, at any age, is a chance to shift perspective, learn about a new culture or even discover one’s own untapped potential. These experiences can be exponentially more powerful for university students, whose curiosity and sense of adventure are at their height.

At  LAU, the International Services and Programs Office offers a myriad of such opportunities to students, which have become increasingly sought after. The office supports students throughout the application process and with onboarding after selection to ensure a smooth transition and a successful experience abroad.  

For the first time this summer, two LAU students went to South Korea as part of a Study Abroad opportunity in collaboration with Dankook University (DKU) in Yongin, close to the capital, Seoul.

For economics major Abbas Mohamad Ali, the semester at DKU “fundamentally changed his perspective on foreign cultures.” Apart from connecting with locals and fellow international students, he was in awe of the vast differences, overcoming the language barrier and building meaningful relationships that he is confident that he will carry with him for a long time.

Joining Mohamad Ali in South Korea was English student Nala Koleilat, who had long dreamed of traveling to the country to experience its culture firsthand. “It’s more than a passing interest—it is a passion that made it my dream country to visit, and being part of this program through LAU made my dream come true sooner than I ever expected,” she said.

One highlight of Koleilat’s study abroad experience was teaching English to DKU students as part of their Global Village Program, as it helped her see her own educators in a new light. She was also surprised that she came to understand Korean despite her beginner-level standing, as she practiced the language with her new friends and interns.

For Koleilat, the ultimate gain was building new friendships. “The directors and Korean interns I spent time with—Erin, Ji-hwan, Dawon, Peter, Lucy Unnie, Aidan, Han, Jaewon Unnie, MoonJung, and the youngest, Rosie—truly made everything better, and it felt as if I had known them forever,” she said.

She was also grateful to her partner in teaching, Gabby Daneluik, with whom she shared lunches and explored Seoul, and her roommate, Grace Luke. Koleilat also built an “instant bond” with fellow exchange student, Yara Hassan.

As a political science student, Roy Abi Raad was eager to gain an insider view of real politics. While spending the spring semester at Boise State University in Idaho, he got the opportunity to visit the State Capitol building and meet several senators.

Abi Raad compared the exchanges he had with political mechanics back home: “[In Lebanon,] even though we are divided politically or religiously, we are united at the core. By contrast, the divisions I observed in a conservative US state felt deeper, which made me grateful for the resilience and unity of my own people,” he said.

Across the Atlantic in Denmark, biology student Maral Kerdelian spent the summer semester at Aarhus University, which she described as “one of her life’s most transformative experiences.”

Kerdelian registered for an advanced social sciences course for which she had to pore over 40 academic papers before arriving at one of the world’s top 100 research-intensive universities. “The critical thinking and research skills that I gained from the course will definitely support my work in future classes,” she noted.

Apart from academia, Kerdelian honed interpersonal skills, having engaged and worked on group projects with students from all over the world. In retrospect, she had learned a lot about herself. “I discovered that I can adapt and make decisions with confidence, all while improving my navigation, problem-solving and communication skills.”

Thanks to an Erasmus scholarship, business student Karl Koudsy went to Freie Universität in Berlin last spring, the first time he had ever lived away from home.

“It’s one thing to hear about other cultures, but living the experience is completely different,” he pointed out. “I was immersed in a new environment, and exposed to different norms, values and lifestyles that truly opened my eyes to how diverse the world is—and how much we can learn from it.”

Although he had to adjust to a new academic system and learn about cultural nuances, he made the most of his time abroad by travelling in Europe and learning to adapt. “The experience reminded me that growth often comes from discomfort and that I am capable of more than I thought. Studying abroad does not just enhance your academic journey—it shapes you into a better, more global citizen.”

Despite their varied study abroad experiences, all students converged on one point: That every student should consider a semester abroad to “grow out of your comfort zone, build international networks, challenge yourself and gain perspective.”

To learn more about study abroad opportunities, visit https://studyabroad.lau.edu.lb/study-abroad-exchange/. The call for applications for spring 2026 closes on September 26, 2025.