Sitting in the modern downtown Buenos Aires boardroom of Fundar — a leading public policy think tank in Argentina — I was in awe of the opportunity this field trip that my “Latin American Perspectives on Law, Democracy and Development” class offered to us. Meeting brilliant young minds in a foreign country, discussing their research, and learning about the cultural and political realities and barriers they face daily was exactly the type of experience I envisioned when I first considered studying abroad. 

At that moment, I felt both intellectually stimulated by the discussion and profoundly disappointed by the turnout from my classmates. Our incredibly accomplished professor, Paola Bergallo — a researcher of Fundar and one of the leading legal minds in Argentina — had gone out of her way to arrange the visit with this busy group of researchers. She was associated with Argentina’s legalization of abortion in 2020, just one of her many accomplishments. Yet, only four students — including myself — had bothered to attend. Several months into my time abroad, I was disappointed but, unfortunately, not surprised by my peers’ lack of enthusiasm. 

Though my time at Torcuato Di Tella — a private university in Buenos Aires — has consistently offered excellent professors, modern, well-equipped classrooms, and an academically rigorous experience, I cannot help but feel that many of my fellow exchange students missed out. I have lost track of how many times I reached out to another exchange student during the school week, only to find they skipped the entire week to see the Iguazu Falls, hike in Patagonia, or drink wine in Mendoza. 

My often near-empty classes explain the Torcuato Di Tella’s 80 per cent attendance requirement — something I had initially seen as odd and paternalistic in a higher education environment but have come to understand as necessary.

Why is this the case? Perhaps I entered the experience with a degree of naivety. At 34, I am a mature student, and I recognize that the concept of student exchange is more commonly portrayed in pop culture as a time for youthful self-expression and discovery than for academic enrichment. 

I’m also aware that I often share this experience with students in their early 20s — many of whom might not be used to this level of independence or being away from the watchful eyes of their parents. It’s not entirely surprising that some are enthralled by their newfound freedom in a fun and unfamiliar place, distracted from the equally incredible academic experience right in front of them. 

This conclusion is nothing new nor unique to U of T students. A recent paper in Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad found that undergraduate students are more likely to choose a study abroad program as a home base for travel, rather than prioritizing course credits or academic enrichment.

While I acknowledge the temptation to prioritize travel and self-discovery during a student exchange, I feel compelled to advocate for the true academic value of the experience. U of T’s Centre for International Experience has cultivated relationships with some of the best institutions of higher learning worldwide to offer its students these opportunities. 

In my first semester abroad, I learned from thought leaders in Argentina — professors with PhDs from top Ivy League universities with extensive international and professional experience. I even recently toured my second-choice exchange program, Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Mexico City campus, and found it to be another state-of-the-art institution I would have been equally privileged to attend.

This experience was possible because differing academic calendars across global universities often allow plenty of travel windows to explore your new home and its neighbours — without missing out on the academic experiences you are paying for. 

If you are planning to go on an exchange, I urge you to consider more than just the typical social aspects of your journey. You have the opportunity to learn so much more than how to pronounce Barcelona with a Catalan lisp.