The reciprocal exchange model is an excellent and affordable way to internationalize the campus while facilitating study abroad. Direct enrollments are another affordable way study abroad offices handle student mobility. However, these models present some distinct limitations to university services and students. Both models are a drain on home institution administrative functions. Study Abroad Advisors are expected to help the student navigate the process while overseeing their other functions for the university.

An International Education Organization, or program provider, can help navigate the process of exchange and direct enrollment by taking the administrative burden away from the home institution. An International Education Organization's sole responsibility is administering the program which lessens the chance for a gap in services and support for the student. Risk is thereby limited by using a quality program provider. Providers often add additional services that university or college study abroad offices can not due to staffing, funding, etc.

Limitations	Exchange	Direct Enrollment	International Education Organization (IEO) / Program Provider
Placements	Often limited number. Not enough space to meet demand.	Usually open ended. As many students who want to go can go.	Usually open ended. As many students who want to go can go.
Reciprocity	Hard to balance incoming and outgoing students. Often becomes a financial burden on the home university.	Not needed as there are no incoming students needed to balance outgoing students.	Not needed as there are no incoming students needed to balance outgoing students.
Process	Home and host institution usually have their own forms to qualify students for acceptance.	Host university determines what paperwork is needed for acceptance.	IEO works with both home and host university process to eliminate extra work for either party
Motivation of Student	Student needs to be disciplined in order to prepare to go overseas. They also need to be independent as they may be the only one from their institution or country at that location.	Student needs to be disciplined in order to prepare to go overseas. Usually won’t be the only student from their country.	Student needs to be disciplined in order to prepare to go overseas. IEO helps with expectations and preparation. Usually won’t be the only student from their country.
Student Support at Home	Study Abroad Office is the resource students rely on to help them through the application, acceptance, travel, and return from the program.	Study Abroad Office is the resource students rely on to help them through the application, acceptance, travel, and return from the program.	IEO is the resource students rely on to help them through the application, acceptance, travel, and return from the program. IEO works with host institution, home institution, and families.
Student Support Abroad	The host institution has support services in place for visiting exchange students, as they do for all international students.	Host institution may have a support team in place to handle issues, as they do for all international students.	IEO has an onsite support team in place to handle issues that arise once the student has arrived in country in addition to that at the host institution.
Cost	Same as home institution.	Fee determined by host institution.	Higher program fee due to added services.
Management of Risk	Often borne by the home university with hope of assistance from host institution. Liability could likely fall on the home university if there is not adequate coverage.	Often borne by either the home university or host university, however, often who is ultimately resonsible in managing the risk may be unclear.	Borne by all parties to the same degree but managed thoroughly by the IEO to help achieve good outcomes.

Why choose EuroLearn as your program provider to Europe?