Why Being Tech-Savvy Is Now Essential for Every International Student
Why is it that some students move to a new country and seem to immediately adjust, while others take their first
month just to figure out how to log into their classes?
Once, it was only about the right visa and a warm coat when moving abroad for university. However, nowadays, the
"suitcase" you carry is mostly digital. No matter if you are going to London, Sydney, or Toronto, Higher
Education has changed a lot from the traditional classroom.
In a report by
UNESCO , the quick digital change in
learning indicates that your technical skills are now equally important as your academic achievements. For
International Students, being tech-savvy is no longer just a nice thing to have; it is the base that you need to
be able to follow a rapidly changing academic world.
With this guide, we aim to help you figure out the necessary digital tools, how to move around in a paperless
campus, and the reason why your tech fluency is the only way to be able to face your first year abroad.
The Digital Shift in Global Education
The arena of Higher Education is no longer the same. Universities have changed their face from the conventional
brick and mortar to hybrid and online learning models, which have students working off a constant connection.
Digital literacy, as per the
UNESCO Institute for Statistics , has become one of the
essential global education goals, ensuring that learners can succeed in a technology-driven society.
In today's campuses, digital platforms have virtually done away with the traditional paperwork. Every step from
your first visa application to your weekly lecture notes is available on the cloud. With this change, technology
in higher education has become the mainstay of student life. If you are not tech-savvy, you are not just missing
a tool; you are being deprived of your education.
Why Being Tech-Savvy Is Essential for International Students
Moving abroad comes with a whole new set of challenges. You are already
figuring out the cultural differences , so why would you want to add tech- related stress
to the mix?
Smooth Academic Transition in a Foreign Environment
The most common problem faced by students going abroad is the so-called "tech shock." The majority of the
top-level universities utilize a Learning Management System (LMS) such as Moodle, Canvas, or Blackboard. These
platforms are the center for getting digital textbooks, joining in on virtual group projects, and submitting
assignments. A student who struggles to operate these systems will not only be slow but also experience stress
that is totally unnecessary in their first semester.
Better Communication and Collaboration
By far, the global education system is progressively collaborative. To communicate with professors and classmates
who are in a different time zone, you will be using
Zoom ,
Microsoft Teams , or
Google Meet . What is the reason that students studying
abroad need to have good technology skills? Because the level at which you can create professional relationships
and take part in global academic discussions is dependent on how well you know these communication platforms.
Enhanced Productivity and Time Management
Studying abroad requires you to juggle academics, social life, and personal chores. Tech-savvy students are seen
using productivity tools such as Notion, Google Workspace, and Trello to keep track of deadlines and organize
complicated research tasks. Such digital readiness among students is an open way for them to have effective time
management so that the stress of a foreign curriculum doesn't become too much for them.
Increased Employability and Career Readiness
Most of the international students, in general, aim at having a global career. Currently, one of the first things
recruiters look for is tech skills that students have for their future careers. Due to the rise of remote
internships and digital-first companies, your degree will be only as valuable as your ability to implement it in
a digital framework. Digital literacy question: Why is digital literacy important in higher education? The
answer is that it reflects the demands of the modern labour market, where AI, data, and digital collaboration
are used as the standard. The
LinkedIn Public
Workplace Learning Report finds that one of the most in-demand skills in the global market is digital
fluency.
Improved Adaptability and Problem-Solving Abroad
Being tech-savvy is a great advantage in reducing the negative effects of "culture shock". Whatever it may be,
using a new city's transport apps, setting up digital banking, or handling online visa portals, technology is
your tool for quick integration. Students who have no problem with digital services are able to adjust to their
new surroundings in half the time compared to those who are reluctant to use technology.
Essential Digital Skills Every International Student Should Have
If you are going abroad, you do not have to be a programmer, but you must have digital literacy as a student.
Below is a list of a tech, savvy students' fundamentals:
Digital Literacy & Online Research Skills
To achieve academic goals, one has to do more than a simple Google search. The student has to learn how to use
Google Scholar and also how to recognize various types of sources that are reviewed by the experts within a vast
digital library. This is the main reason why students need to be digitally literate.
Productivity Software Skills
It is not enough to just know how to type. You are expected to be proficient in MS Excel for the purpose of data
analysis and PowerPoint or Google Slides for creating a presentation that has a strong impact on the audience.
These are the necessary tech skills for students which can be applied in any field of study.
Cybersecurity Awareness
In many cases, international students are centered through misleading online tactics. It is very critical that
you recognize a way to protect your private records, recognize phishing tries, and maintain your university
logins safely in case you want to be secure out of the country. The
National Cybersecurity Alliance's StaySafeOnline
campaign is a very good resource for students to have safe digital identities in different countries.
AI Literacy
Students need to develop their digital skills to meet the demands of future jobs. One of the means is by
understanding the proper usage of AI tools like ChatGPT. Universities are now expecting that you realize the
limitations of AI and treat it as a research assistant instead of taking a shortcut.
Coding & Data Basics (Optional but Valuable)
Quite a bit of non tech majors may think that they do not need a basic knowledge of data-driven work or how to
write simple Python/HTML code. However, this understanding can distinguish you from others. It is a
demonstration of a certain level of digital readiness, which is highly valued in any sector. The likes of
Code. org proclaim that elementary computer science knowledge is
the "new literacy" that is indispensable to any future field of study.
How Universities Support Digital Readiness
Colleges and universities are actively supporting their students. In fact, the majority of these
establishments are currently providing:
Virtual Orientation Programs: Assist you in getting familiar with the LMS prior to the commencement
of classes.
Information Technology Instruction Classes: Complimentary workshops on software such as Adobe
Creative Cloud or advanced Excel.
Purchasing of Software: Offer you the academic tools necessary for free that would have been costly
if bought by yourself.
The Future: Technology and Global Careers
The question is what skills will be necessary for children when we know that more and more industries will tend
to be automated. In that sense, student skills will mainly rely on the digital transformation. According to a
report published by
Coursera and titled Global Skills
Trends , the global job market is demanding a "digital fluency" skill the most and the fastest. Students
who are able to acquire such skills today are not only going to be able to get a degree, but also they are
making their careers immune to future changes.
Additionally, the
World Economic
Forum's Future of Jobs Report points out that more than 80% of companies are considering speeding up the
adoption of new technologies; thus, digital skills will be the minimum requirement to be able to continue in the
labour market.
Conclusion
The journey an international student takes is filled with courage and desire. Still, from the year 2025 and
onwards, desire should be supported by digital readiness. Technology is not merely a subject that you study; it
is the atmosphere you live in.
While discovering
what international students actually want from a university abroad , you should also
check how that university facilitates your digital development. At
UniNewsletter , we constantly witness how tech-savvy
students become quicker in their adaptation, achieve higher grades, and get better job positions.
It is not sufficient to just have your things ready for the trip; your skills also need to be updated. The global
education system's future is digital, and you are the one who should be leading the way.
26-05-2023
American University of Ras Al Khaimah 
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