Education Abroad funds new Global Experiences programs

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Thu, 02/18/2021 - 16:38

Seven new virtual and global-local experiential learning programs from the College of Arts and Sciences, funded by the Education Abroad Office, in partnership with the Office of Global Strategies, will be available to students for summer and fall 2021, among 25 available as alternatives to traditional study abroad programs.

Through hands-on activities and coursework, the Global Experiences programs will enable students to learn about and have meaningful interactions with other cultures and countries without having to travel overseas. These experiential programs differ from standard virtual courses in their replication of learning outcomes similar to faculty-led education abroad programs. Thanks to funding provided through the Global Experiences Innovation Fund, any additional program costs that exceed standard tuition and fees will be covered in the form of a scholarship to students.

CAS Projects:

  • Christina Fielder, curriculum integration project
  • Emira Ibrahimpasic, Gwyneth Talley and Sydney Webb, curriculum integration project, School of Global Integrative Studies
  • Katelyn Kunzman and Emira Ibrahimpasic, "Negotiating Peace: From Conflict to Coexistence"
  • Taylor Livingston and Emira Ibrahimpasic, "Food and Culture"
  • Patrice McMahon, Alexander Claussen, Nora Peterson and Jacob Schlange, "Becoming American: How Identities are Created and Re-Created"
  • Patrice McMahon, Hana Waisserova and Tyler White, "Searching for Freedom, Belonging and Hope: Lessons from Central Europe to the Heartland of America"
  • Gwyneth Talley and Michael Shambaugh-Miller, "Ethnographic Field School: Garden, Food and Community Outreach with Yazidi Farmers"

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Global Experiences Innovation Fund called for ideas from faculty and staff across the university to provide virtual and domestic global learning opportunities for students as alternatives for canceled summer 2021 programs. The launch of the Global Experiences programs marks a first step toward expanding experiential learning opportunities as outlined in the N2025 Strategic Plan and the recently released Forward Together Global Strategy.

“At the very core of the N2025 Strategic Plan and our Forward Together global strategy is experiential student learning. We want every student to graduate with a global experience in their portfolio so they’re future and world ready,” said Josh Davis, associate vice chancellor for global affairs. “These 25 programs we’ve launched through the Global Experiences Innovation Fund are the first step to accomplish one of our Global Strategy goals that will give students a new way to engage with the world.”

The broad range of Global Experiences developed by faculty and staff will offer something of interest to students in any field of study – from exploring global connections in Lincoln to analyzing the Black Lives Matter movement on a global scale, and from investigating immigration from Central Europe to the Heartland of America to learning about the contributions of French history and culture toward engineering advancements. Students will have the opportunity to engage with countries all over the world, including Japan, Jordan, Rwanda, Ireland, Brazil and Costa Rica.

“We’re very excited by the learning experiences faculty and staff have proposed that cover such a variety of topics and cultures,” said Rebecca Baskerville, director of Education Abroad. “More importantly, what these Global Experiences create for students will outlast the pandemic so that we can emerge on the other side with a broad menu of options to offer students global learning experiences – whether they’re virtual, across campus, around the U.S. or in another country.”

  • When summer registration begins in March, students can sign up for summer 2021 Global Experiences by completing a MyWorld application and enrolling in the program course on MyRED. Details for each course are available on the Education Abroad website and students can set up advising appointments by emailing educationabroad@unl.edu.

In addition to the 25 short-term programs launching in the summer and fall semesters, four projects that further integrate global learning outcomes into the curriculum have been awarded through the Global Experiences Innovation Fund. The curriculum integration projects will incorporate coursework taken abroad into the academic context of the department or college, resulting in “Education Abroad by Major” guides similar to the School of Natural Resources’ advising guide. The guides help students understand the benefits of a global experience for their field of study, identify recommended programs and review major-specific considerations for courses and timing.