Instead of advising students to travel, Shippensburg University’s “study abroad expert” got to experience the program herself.

Mary Burnett, SU’s director of International Programs, served as a guest speaker for the International Travel Series on Thursday evening.

Burnett talked about her trip to Germany as part of the Fulbright’s Educational Adventure Program. She was one of 15 Americans selected out of more than 400 people who applied. 

Burnett spoke of the different cities she traveled to and the cultural differences between Germany and the U.S. While abroad, she focused on learning how its education system is compared to the U.S. As director of international programs, she works closely with students from the U.S. but also students from abroad. 

The Fulbright’s Educational Adventure Program is a cultural exchange program in which individuals can earn scholarships study and travel. Burnett said the German program alone had 750 people participating. 

“The German government and citizens take education extremely serious, and many of the German people think education should be a human right, not a privilege,” Burnett said. 

Burnett said she found many German citizens could not understand the concept of the government not paying for citizens’ education. 

She compared the educational system to the United States where a college education is often a privilege and has little funding by the government. 

Burnett said the German government values research. She said a German politician told her that the country values education due to not having any natural resources, like coal and oil; they need to invest in their people as their “natural resources.”

They had a hard time wrapping the idea of how much student debt many Americans have after receiving a bachelor’s degree. In Germany the government pays for its primary and secondary schools. However, they pick students at a young age for what track they will be on and if they will pursue going to college. If a student does not go to a university, they are likely to go to trade schools, although what is commonly thought of as a “trade school” in the U.S. is different than in Germany. Burnett said for nursing or business school, individuals do not always need to go to a university. 

Burnett also talked about the architecture and history of Germany. Many cities like Berlin and Bochum were damaged due to the fighting. Burnett said they are more modern than other cities in Europe. 

Burnett found that she gained a lot through learning Germany’s culture and history. Due to World War II, many people have an idea of what Germany was and only focus on that time period. But, Germany has a rich history before and after the war, according to Burnett.

“Once I submitted my application, that was it. I didn’t have to do anything else. I just had to wait,” Burnett said. 

Burnett says for those interested in studying abroad, looking into the Fulbrighter’s Educational Adventure Program could be a life-changing trip at an affordable price, according to Burnett.

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