Getting ready to study abroad is incredibly exciting for students, but it can also be a bit nerve-wracking. For universities, ensuring students feel fully prepared and confident for their global adventure is paramount. That’s where well-crafted pre-departure sessions come in. They’re your institution’s way of building a seamless experience from a student’s home country to their new global classroom.

However, delivering impactful, personalized pre-departure support can be a significant challenge for busy international education staff. With students heading to diverse countries and programs, manually creating unique content, ideas, and activities for each group is time-consuming and often inefficient.

At AI for Global Education, we understand these challenges. We believe Generative AI offers a powerful solution, helping universities create pre-departure sessions that are not only clear and helpful but also highly personalized and stress-free for both staff and students.

The Power of a Great Pre-Departure Session

A well-designed pre-departure session focuses on key areas to ensure a smoother journey for your students:

1. Getting There: All the Travel Stuff
   • Passport & Visa: Confirming students have all necessary entry documents.
   • Travel Plans: Guiding students on airport arrival procedures and transit to accommodation.
   • What to Pack: Offering simple, relevant tips for essential items.
   • First Steps: Outlining initial actions upon landing, like university check-ins.
2. Life Abroad: Practical Living
   • Money Matters: Advice on local currency, banking, and budgeting.
   • Staying Healthy: Understanding health insurance and local medical access.
   • Daily Life: Insights into public transport, local customs, and shopping.
3. Fitting In: Culture & Support
   • New Culture: Preparing students for cultural differences and customs.
   • Making Friends: Tips for social integration with local and international peers.
   • Getting Help: Guiding students on who to contact for support at their host university.
4. Your Questions Answered: Providing a crucial opportunity for students to address any remaining concerns.

Empowering Staff: How Generative AI Revolutionizes Pre-Departure Sessions

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, CoPilot, and Gemini are invaluable assets for international education staff. They enable you to personalize communications, draft session content, and brainstorm engaging activities with unprecedented speed and efficiency. This means happier, more prepared students who settle in quickly and have a better overall experience.

I. Drafting & Personalizing Session Content with Ease

No more starting from scratch for every session! GenAI can help staff:

• Generate Session Outlines & Talking Points: Quickly draft comprehensive agendas and key discussion points tailored to specific destinations or program types.
  • Example Prompt: “Create a 60-minute pre-departure session outline for students going to Berlin, Germany, covering visas, local transport, finding housing, and academic expectations.”
• Create Customized Handouts & FAQs: Develop personalized resource packs, email content, or FAQs specific to a student cohort’s destination, ensuring relevance and reducing generic information overload.
  • Example Prompt: “Draft an email to students traveling to Japan, outlining essential pre-arrival tasks, common cultural norms for daily interactions, and local emergency contacts.”
• Produce Tailored Packing Advice: Generate more detailed and customized packing lists than ever before, accounting for climate, local availability, and cultural considerations.
  • Example Prompt: “Write a detailed packing guide section for students studying in a Mediterranean climate for spring, including tips on layering and culturally appropriate attire for university.”

II. Brainstorming Engaging Ideas & Activities for Sessions

Make your sessions dynamic and memorable with AI-powered brainstorming:

• Scenario-Based Discussions: Prompt GenAI to create realistic “what if” scenarios or case studies related to travel, cultural challenges, or academic adjustments in specific countries. These can spark valuable group discussions.
  • Example Prompt: “Generate three short, interactive scenarios for a pre-departure session on ‘Money Matters Abroad’ for students going to Australia, involving common budgeting challenges and potential solutions.”
• Icebreakers & Interactive Elements: Get ideas for engaging icebreakers or activities that introduce cultural differences or practical living tips in a fun, impactful way.
  • Example Prompt: “Suggest three interactive activities for a pre-departure session that help students understand non-verbal communication differences in Latin American cultures.”
• Q&A Preparation: Use AI to anticipate common student questions for a particular region or topic, helping you prepare comprehensive answers in advance.
  • Example Prompt: “List 10 frequently asked questions by students about public transportation and safety when studying in London, UK.”

The Result: A Smarter, More Efficient Pre-Departure Experience

For the university, embracing Generative AI means:

• Enhanced Efficiency: Staff can personalize and create resources much faster, freeing up time for direct student support.
• Greater Consistency: Ensure all students receive high-quality, relevant information, regardless of their destination.
• Improved Student Preparedness: Happier, more confident students who are better equipped for their journey and settle into their new environment more quickly.

By leveraging Generative AI, you’re not just organizing pre-departure sessions; you’re building a highly effective, scalable system that truly supports student success from day one.

Ready to empower your staff and elevate your university’s pre-departure support? Connect with us to explore AI’s role in student success.