The Study Abroad Office is holding a symposium today in Talley Student Center’s Walnut Room, which focuses on the opportunities and benefits of studying abroad. The event will include a list of presentations from students and faculty members about their experiences studying abroad. It will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Adam Steckler, assistant director of the Study Abroad Office, said it is a great opportunity for students.

“It is a chance for students and faculty alike to learn from the experience of those who have studied abroad in past. There will be presentations by students and faculty who will share their experiences on this,” Steckler said.

Three of the presentations will be given by students who have studied abroad, Steckler said, and the rest will be delivered by faculty who has previously led study abroad programs.

According to Steckler, this is the symposium’s third year at the University.

“The main purpose of this event is to raise awareness amongst the public about such opportunities. [The audience] will get to learn about the experience of studying abroad, get better idea of what students do when they study abroad,” Steckler said.

Diane Beckman, assistant professor at the department of foreign languages and literatures, also one of the presenters at the event feels the public can learn a lot from such events. She has been the faculty director for the Paris-Lille study abroad program since 2004.

“I will be showing one-minute video from all the tours I have had since 2004,” Beckman said. “Two of the students who were on that program in past, will also be there to share their experiences.”

“Such an event is very useful in a sense that it gives an insight of completely different culture than ours,” Beckman said. “We learn how to interact with different cultures and the people.”

Beckman said she enjoys filming her study abroad experiences because she can share them with future groups.

“From my presentation, I expect to give some idea about film making as [making films] allows us to share our experiences with those who were not a part of the tour,” Beckman said.

Steckler said the event is free and open to the public and said the event will range in presented topics.

“Some of the other presentations include one on stressing [about] the challenges of studying abroad, another highlighting Mexican natural history and culture, amongst others,” Steckler said.