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[celt31]

I am a US citizen currently enrolled in a Masters in Higher Ed. & Student Affairs program (w an emphasis on international higher ed) in the US. I currently have a GA position in the Internation Affairs office working w international students studying for their Masters or PhD at my school. I also have an internship for the study abroad office at my university. Many older students in my program have also obtained summer internships abroad working for programs such as Fulbright. I also studied abroad long-term in the UK during undergrad and will study abroad in Italy short-term in a few months.

W my current and possible future experience what is the likelihood of obtaining a job overseas for a study abroad program or in an American university's foreign campus? How do people even go about getting these jobs? I know it is possible as the director for my study abroad program while in the UK was American (i need to contact her, i know). Any suggestions, info, or tips?

Thanks in advance!

[slac_barbarian]

How many languages do you speak?  Have you worked abroad? 

I would suggest doing an internship or faculty/staff exchange in your dream place to feel out the market.

A more important question: Just how badly do you want to live abroad?

[notaprof]

Go to the NAFSA - Association of International Educators conference in Kansas City, MO in May/June and network.  Sign up for the SECUSS-L listserv on the NAFSA Web site http://www.nafsa.org/ and follow the job postings there to get an idea of the limited number of opportunities that come up.  Also check out my favorite - www.transitionsabroad.org.

Yes, directors of programs overseas can be from the US but the immigration issues are such that an organization would only want to do the paperwork for folks at the highest level.  Often a director would be expected to have excellent language skills as well as a PhD in a pertinent field with a research background in the region.  Also, you need to be eligible to work in the country to get most of the mid-level overseas jobs in a study abroad program.  You might get a gig for a year or two as a very low paid intern or in an entry-level job if you can get a visa to work legally for a temporary period.  Most programs overseas would want someone who is very familiar with the location and not someone who just dropped in from the US with no real connections in the location.   Your best bet is to work in the US with a study abroad provider with the chance to travel, or get a job with a US institution that has its own study abroad programs while you get some experience and work your way up to the amount of experience you would need for a director's position.  

Or you could apply for a Fulbright or work in the Peace Corps to get some experience overseas as well.  If you could think of yourself as an entrepreneur then start your own study abroad program/volunteer overseas/gap year organization. 

[notaprof]

Oops.  Bad link - it should have been http://www.transitionsabroad.com/

[boggy]

I agree somewhat with notaprof.  Most overseas director positions go to residents / citizens of that country, those with the language and cultural skills to back them up.  Sometimes you may see someone seconded from the US branch of the university but these posts are generally only for a few years.  Some overseas programs are looking for an academic as director, some are looking for an administrator.  Personally, I think if you are going to be in charge of adjunct faculty you need the academic credentials, and some admin skills and experience.

I would think you need to work your way up through the sytsem in the US before thinking about actually landing a job overseas.

I got lucky....I direct an overseas program in a country that is not my own, but I had a passport that allowed me to live and work there legally (think EU passport).  I am not American but had been on faculty there (different university) for 7 years so knew the system and expectations.  My academic background is completely different from what one would expect of an overseas director.  So, I think it shows there is no real mold for these things, just experience and finding that right job.

Most jobs are posted on the nafsa website....but they don't come along very often!  Best of luck.