Panrimo, a local company offering customized study abroad programs, brought its expertise to WSU on Nov. 20 as part of International Education Week.
The study abroad seminar offered information about the best ways to study outside of the United States, how to get credit for courses taken abroad, as well as the many scholarships and grants available through WSU and Panrimo to help fund a program.
“There is a huge myth that studying abroad is expensive and will delay graduation,” said Paul Green, executive director of Panrimo.
However, Green said that studying abroad can actually cost less or the same as tuition at WSU.
“In Copenhagen, they don’t charge for a university. So basically, I got six credits for free,” said Green, who studied abroad at the University of Paris-Sorbonne and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. “I just had to pay for airfare, housing and other expenses.”
Margaret Ogg, program coordinator for the study abroad program at Wayne State, said that she studied abroad for her last semester, and the timeline to finish was actually quicker. This is because, according to Ogg, some programs run for six weeks when studying abroad, whereas at WSU they generally last 10 weeks.
She said that another myth about studying abroad is that you have to speak a foreign language.
Both the representatives from Panrimo and Ogg said that there are generally no language requirements, except for a willingness to learn. They said that even if students have no knowledge of a foreign language when they embark on their study abroad, they are more likely to pick one up easier than through taking classes in America because the language surrounds them.
Tony Amante Schepers, director of university relations for Panrimo, said that many students don’t realize the amount of scholarships and grants available for study abroad programs. While Panrimo offers $10,000 in scholarships, there are also some available through Wayne State’s study abroad program that can significantly lower costs.
Schepers, who has studied abroad three times, all funded by grants and scholarships, said that “free money is available” but finds it interesting that many students don’t take advantage of it.
Both Green and Schepers have worked hard to make “free money” available to students enrolled in study abroad through Panrimo. But they also credit themselves as being a very unique company in their field because of the prices they offer versus others.
Green said that what makes Panrimo unique is that it offers customized programs that let students choose their own base price and pick the add-ons, which include Skype service, excursions and medical insurance. He said that this makes it a lot more cost effective for students.
Green said that out of the nine countries they offer programs in, Argentina and the United Kingdom are Panrimo’s most popular destinations.
“In Argentina, students can learn Spanish without going to Spain,” Green said, “and the dollar goes further than the euro.”
The benefits stemming from studying abroad are endless, according to Schepers and Green. They said that while studying abroad is a great way to get away from home it is also a great way to try something new, try new food, learn a new language, and it is great to put on a resume.
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