The international network describes how people expand connections and collaborations globally to learn more things. At university, you can meet several people who come from different nationalities and have different experiences. Diversity becomes an aspect of building strong international networks for your future career.
A strong connection between you and people with different experiences in any field would give you a vision of how the world works. However, you should follow the following steps to strengthen the connection tie. Check it out below!
Tips to Build Strong International Networks
Here is the list of 9 main keys to bonding into a global network to set yourself up for a career.
1. Join Student Organizations
Enough with your comfort zone, this is your time to shine with new challenges that will bring you more positivity during your study. You can join student organizations based on your hobbies, capabilities, and academic needs.
During your period in student organizations, you will discover a more diverse mindset from the club’s members. Hence, you will learn more and gain new experience and skills while doing the thing you like.
2. Participate in Study Abroad Programs
Diversity is about cultures and mindsets that come from people with different nationalities. Participating in study abroad programs would bring you out of your comfort zone to experience more about diversity.
You could have innovative collaborations with your fellow students during your study abroad period. The collaboration will discuss things related to career and experience. In addition, participating in study abroad programs would maximize international networks.
3. Attend International Conference and Workshops
Building a network globally by attending international conferences and workshops gives you a chance to dig knowledge deeper into certain topics. It is such a recommended agenda to have done during your college study to be able to connect with many people inside or outside university.
Moreover, you can try to ask the presenter to elaborate more about the study. The moment you meet with scholars and colleagues will make you easily build international networks.
4. Volunteer for International Projects
International networks would be effective if you join in volunteer programs for international projects. Volunteering in certain fields is helpful to build your CV with the additional experience you get from volunteering.
However, the scale of the project you are in for volunteering will affect the quality of the networks you are connected to. Consider applying to international projects on a large scale to improve your connections and gain great exposure for your career.
5. Connect with Alumni
One of the best ways to build connections is to keep in good communication with alumni. Hence, you will get more information about careers and business by asking for some tips from alumni who already have experience. You can learn from what they had as your basic knowledge and then develop it into something bigger.
Furthermore, from alumni, you can collect information about volunteers, projects, and current workshops. You can apply for one of them to establish your skills and experiences with alumni’s advice and mentorship.
6. Join Online Communities and Forums
The digital world is such a good place to dig more about knowledge and improve skills through the online internet. Seek online communities and forums that would discuss certain topics you are into. You can explore remote communities that are available for webinars, conferences, and local events.
Through the online world, you can collaborate with people to exchange mindsets over the topics. International networks are born when you consistently join communities and forums and participate in discussions.
7. Leverage Social Media Platforms
There are social media platforms you can use to learn more about networking. You can maximize the usage of X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and so on to build connections with people. Share your articles, and reviews, and participate in online discussions through social media to meet people around the world.
For instance, you can join live discussions by using X’s space and bring out certain topics. It is more likely a podcast on YouTube where you can listen to people’s opinions and you can add some of yours. What’s more, connecting to LinkedIn is much easier for you to build international networks.
8. Learn a New Language for International Networks
Global networks must consist of different languages that are used in the discussion. You should put your effort into learning about a new language to make it easier to understand the current issue. Moreover, learning a new language can help you to improve cross-cultural communication skills within the group.
In addition, developed cross-cultural communication can be used to exchange pieces of information with locals. Thus, you can gain new knowledge about people’s mindsets and personal connections.
9. Stay in Touch with Your Contacts
International networks will be well managed if you keep in touch with everyone in your contact. There are social media, email, and LinkedIn that used to be the best way to keep connected with people. You can follow them on social media, send emails to share replies and keep the connection on LinkedIn.
This solution is necessary since you might be away from your friends and colleagues after volunteer and internship programs. Exchange contact to maintain communication is key.
Let’s Prepare and Build International Networks at University!
Networking during your study at university is such a mandatory agenda to do to build more relationships. You can develop your communication by making international networks after joining communities, exchanging your mindset with alumni and locals, and leveraging social media.
To establish your networking skills and broaden your opportunities, consider Sampoerna University. As the only international institution in Indonesia offering a two-degree program, it allows you to earn two Bachelor’s degrees—one from Sampoerna University and another from the University of Arizona—within just four years.
This unique program not only strengthens your global connections but also prepares you for a successful career in the international job market. In fact, 9 out of 10 Sampoerna University graduates secure a job within six months of graduation, showcasing the program’s effectiveness and global credibility.
Want to join us? It is your time to be the next career-ready student from Sampoerna University!
