Study Abroad as a Right to Quality Education (SDG 4) Expanding Access through Scholarships, Joint Programs, and Global Opportunities

Bassant Nada

Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation

College: College of Business and Public Management

Major: MBA.GLOBAL

Faculty Research Mentor: Goldberg, Adara  

Abstract:

Title:Study Abroad as a Right to Quality Education: Expanding Access through Scholarships and Global OpportunitiesAuthor: Bassant Nada, Human Rights Institute, Kean UniversityAbstract:Study abroad is known to support important educational outcomes such as global awareness, cultural understanding, leadership skills, and career preparation. However, access to study abroad opportunities is not equal. Many students, especially those facing financial and structural barriers, are unable to participate. This limits their access to experiences that can strongly influence academic success, career growth, and social mobility. Guided by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Quality Education, this study explores whether study abroad should be treated as a core part of higher education rather than a privilege available to only a few students.Using Kean University as a case study, this research examines how scholarships, program design, and global partnerships can make study abroad more accessible for underrepresented students. The study uses a qualitative approach, including a review of university programs, case studies of Kean’s Travelearn program and the Kean–Wenzhou, semi-structured interviews with students who participated in study abroad, and reflective analysis based on the researcher’s experience as a USAID-funded scholar. This approach helps connect institutional policies with real student experiences.The findings show that strategies such as tuition parity, built-in scholarship applications, curriculum-based study abroad programs, and short-term international experiences increase student participation and support educational equity. The study ends by presenting a 2030 roadmap that positions study abroad as an inclusive, affordable, and essential part of higher education. These findings contribute to discussions in educational leadership and global education by showing how universities can expand access while improving the quality of international learning.Keywords:Study Abroad, Educational Equity, Quality Education, Higher Education Leadership, Global Learning