Some universities don’t keep their doors closed during summertime. They provide students with a variety of opportunities to come from all around the world and continue their learning experience even during summer months.

Attending a summer school has grown in popularity these days thanks to the numerous career advantages and education benefits it offers to students. It can also improve the chances of being accepted at top universities when applying for higher education. However, one of the main benefits of attending a summer school is the opportunity to develop personal skills that will translate in career and personal success.

Summer schools provide students with a great opportunity to develop and strengthen their interpersonal and intercultural skills. Well-developed interpersonal skills are considered to be personal qualities that will influence how students will interact with their peers and overcome all life challenges. Here are the most incredible skills students develop in summer schools that will lay a strong foundation for their future success.

A summer school provides students with a unique educational environment. While education and skill development through a variety of tasks and activities are highly encouraged, students feel far from being stressed by normal school deadlines and responsibilities. It provides them with an environment where everybody is eager to learn and gain new skills. They are neither disrupted by classmates who don’t want to be there, nor judged for their “geeky” side. 

Thanks to the environment that encourages students to manifest their interest in learning freely, they are able to develop valuable academic skills which can have a huge impact on their university success. Most summer schools encourage students to learn in a more experimental way which helps them get involved in a deeper form of learning and gain applicable skills of their knowledge.

Having the opportunity to experience university life and to study subjects that interest them, students of summer schools will feel more empowered to have better academic performance once they start studying a higher education program.

A popular reason why students choose to study at summer schools abroad is to improve their language students. In today’s globalized world, knowing foreign languages is a great career and personal advantage. Not only that most employers consider the knowledge of foreign languages as an important quality of a candidate, but it can also be an advantage during vacations abroad.

Summer schools provide an intercultural environment with a variety of language development opportunities. First of all, students choose courses that are usually in the English language which encourages them to practice ad improve their verbal and written English skills. However, if they are interested in studying a different language, they can also opt for courses that are held in a different language.

Moreover, living and studying in an intercultural environment encourages students to communicate with each other and exchange their cultural knowledge. Being part of an intercultural group will encourage them to practice their English skills and ultimately improve them or to teach each other different words from their mother tongue.

 

One of the main personal advantages of attending a summer school is the opportunity to develop self-reliance skills and independence. The experience of traveling, studying, and living abroad can have a huge influence in helping students become more self-sufficient.

Most summer school students have never been away from their families and homes for such a long period of time. Thus, they have never been put in the position of taking care of themselves or overcoming challenges on their own.

However, studying abroad at a summer school helps them get out of their comfort zone and learn how to be independent. They will have to be the ones that satisfy their own most basic needs without any help from their parents. Apart from self-reliance and confidence, students also develop their problem-solving skills by overcoming challenges they encounter both in the academic environment and in their everyday life while living abroad.

Naturally, going to a new place involves the necessity of meeting and communicating with new people. Networking and communication skills development is also one of the main benefits of attending a summer school. Being part of an intercultural social environment and constantly meeting new people helps them practice their communication skills.

Great communication skills are a personal quality that is in high demand in today’s workplace. It helps employees to collaborate better towards achieving a mutual goal. Thus, today’s employers place a huge value on hiring candidates who can easily integrate into a group of new people. Moreover, being able to communicate and connect with people who may have different cultural values is even more appreciated.

Summer schools can play a huge role in boosting one’s employability thanks to the multitude of soft skills development opportunities they offer to students.   

Summer schools provide students with a multitude of activities and responsibilities which can help them develop their leadership skills. Students can engage in a variety of workshops, events, and activities which are uniquely designed to encourage them to uncover their leadership abilities.

All summer school activities encourage students to work in a team, learn how to communicate and collaborate, how to pursue goals, and how to overcome conflicts or challenges in a beneficial manner. All these opportunities help them develop all the important traits that a good leader has.  

Developing cultural awareness in summer school can play a huge role in helping students gain adaptability skills. Also, having a cultural background has become increasingly important in today’s globalized workplace. By nurturing cultural awareness, students will be more empowered to do well in their international relations and to make themselves more employable in their future careers.

The international experience of a summer school helps them become more open-minded and learn how to collaborate and communicate well with anyone despite any existing cultural differences.

Summer schools offer a wide variety of events and activities that create the perfect educational environment for students. It encourages them to continue their studies during summertime, learn in a more experimental way, and prepare for the university experience. However, the most important benefit is that it helps them develop important skills that are essential for their future personal and career success.