Staff Interview with Katharina Bauer

How did you discover and get involved with StudentsGoAbroad?

During my studies at FH Darmstadt I worked part-time at the International Office, advising students on programs to go abroad and also welcoming international students to Darmstadt. I very much enjoyed this work. During that time, a friend of mine (who is now CEO of Studentsgoabroad) moved to Cape Town and started to offer internships for students over there. He asked me to join and I saw this at the perfect opportunity to combine the things I like most.

What is your favorite part of living in Barcelona? How long have you lived there?

I have been living in Barcelona for 8 years and I really enjoy being here. The city offers everything: culture, architecture, the sea, good weather, great food, and very nice and open-minded people. 

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?

As I was travelling a lot, also during my studies, I realized how important it is to go abroad at a young age. It is important to go out of your comfort zone. It helps you a lot to be open-minded and kind. So I know that when our applicants go abroad, most of them are going to have an unforgettable time, make memories of a lifetime, and grow and see the world from a different perspective. They will be more tolerant and flexible. This is very fulfilling and important to me.

Can you give us some background information on how you source internship placements and programs at StudentsGoAbroad?

We work with various organizations and companies in different countries. Our main focus is on providing individual internship placements abroad, but as some of our partners also offer reliable and trustworthy volunteer programs or even adventure tours, we would also include them in our portfolio. Individual internship search means that our partners would even start to look for new corporations with host companies, in case there is no such contact in their network.

All of our partnerships are long term business relationships and we have been working with some of them even for more than 10 years. Trust and reliability are key for our work, as they enable us to provide high quality placement to our applicants. We are in contact with our partners on almost a daily basis (depending which program is running best at the moment), which gives us the chance to offer a very detailed consultation to each applicant, even before they register (paying the deposit fee).

If the applicant is looking for an internship in a niche company, we will check with which partner has the right connections for that. If an applicant is not sure if the country is safe enough for traveling alone, we will give them a call and will subjectively evaluate which country would be best for him or her in order to make sure there won’t be a cultural shock or she or he won’t get homesick. We are not a huge company, which gives us the time to really pay a lot of attention to the individual applicant, and to really provide the placement that they are looking for. 

What advice do you have for future participants going abroad for the first time?

Expect the unexpected. I mean expectations are good, but sometimes they can destroy our time abroad. Even if you might have heard a lot about your final destination before, leave space for more to experience. Secondly, be open to the new culture. Every country is different and every culture has different values (such as work ethic, etc.), which should be accepted by each intern or volunteer. Sometimes they may not conform with how you see or would do things, but that’s absolutely ok! To just accept and respect the other culture doesn’t mean you need to do it that way, so don’t try to compare them with your own culture or way of seeing the world too much. Enjoy the differences that make humanity and cultures so precious.

Who is the most successful type of participant, and what kind of qualities do they possess?

Those who are open and see the joy and beauty in difference are ideal. Sometimes there are applicants who know exactly what they want and they have a very detailed imagination of where they want to go and how their time abroad will look like. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work like that. It is good to have goals, but let us help guide you to your destination, as we know which country can really offer what you are looking for. Of course, other great qualities are accessibility and the willingness to learn.

How many students typically travel with StudentsGoAbroad per year?

Between 400 and 500 students each year, but it depends on the year. 

What kind of support do participants receive from StudentsGoAbroad, both pre-departure and in-country?

Before they register/pay the deposit, we offer individual consultation via email or even phone (they can schedule a call via Hubspot or call directly). We try to help them with their decision on going abroad—when is the best timing for them, which is the best destination, etc. We then help them to optimize their resume and cover letter according to the country’s specifications and give them tips on how to prepare for their interview with the host company. We also provide cultural training (so far via phone or PDF, still working on offering webinars!) to prepare them the best way possible for their time abroad.

The actual internship search and placement is done by our partners and agents abroad, who are in direct contact with the host companies. They would also be responsible for organizing the airport pick up (this is an extra option in some countries) and introducing them to the host company or volunteer program on the very first day. They will then be the local contact person for the students while abroad. In the meantime, we are of course there to help the students as well via email and phone.

How have you seen participants benefit from their travels abroad? 

Through travel reports we have learned that they enjoyed their time working in a professional environment and that it, most of all, has helped them to grow personally. In between the lines we can read how they have changed from somebody who has never been abroad before or for such a long time, having immersed into a new culture and (in our eyes) has gained intercultural competence (which is actually the main reason to travel abroad!).

Why should students be excited to join a program offered by your organization?

Travelling abroad is always exciting, especially if it is your first time traveling alone. You will become independent, you will learn that your world as you have known it before is just a tiny little spot compared to what is out there and have yet to experience. You will meet new people, make friends and will definitely leave your comfort zone. It all may sound like slogans you have read before, but this is how it is. 

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

Meaningful travel is to spend your time abroad in a meaningful way. This means both meaningful for yourself and meaningful for the host company or host organization you are visiting. If you do an internship in a host company, you will take so much knowledge from this experience home, and in return, the host company or organization will be enriched not only by your work or innovative ideas, but also by your person alone. We try to achieve this by working with small partners or agencies abroad who have a good reputation among the host companies/organizations in their country, and where their work and support is valued among the local community.