By Jamie L. Freedman
Several new study abroad offerings are in the works at GW, as the Innovation Task Force strives to take the university’s thriving study abroad enterprise to the next level.
Study abroad—designated a top innovation idea during year one of the university-wide ITF initiative—is an integral part of the GW experience. Forty-seven percent of the junior class studied abroad in 2010. Program offerings span the globe; GW runs Study Centers in England, France, Spain, Argentina and Chile; has 56 international exchange partners; and allows students to choose from more than 300 other affiliated study abroad programs.
“GW is typically ranked ninth or 10th in the nation in terms of the number of students studying abroad, which is pretty exciting considering that some of the schools in the top 10 are more than twice our size,” said Donna Scarboro, associate vice president for international programs. “By establishing a number of new programs, we hope to engage the full spectrum of GW students in substantive international learning experiences that complement their study on campus.”
According to Dr. Scarboro, five new, ITF-inspired study abroad programs will debut within the next two years:
- This fall, GW is premiering a four-year international scholars program for 25 select, incoming freshmen annually who will study abroad for their entire junior year. The cohort will work closely with the Study Abroad Office as freshmen and sophomores to optimize their year abroad and will receive stipends to encourage research projects that tap international and campus-based resources for a unique senior capstone opportunity for each student.
- A yearlong program focused on intensive learning about Africa, featuring a semester of specialized study in London followed by a semester in Africa.
- A semester abroad program at Tel Aviv University focusing on Israeli culture, designed by the Classics and Judaic Studies departments.
- An international business program that will eventually include multiple international bases; the program will be launched next year in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- New study abroad opportunities for science and engineering students with curriculum synchronized by GW faculty members and their counterparts at selected partner institutions.
“The infusion of ITF energy and attention enables us to improve our portfolio of GW-designed offerings and offer high-quality programs of our own in new locations,” Dr. Scarboro said. “We are excited to have the opportunity to reach out to more students with certain majors and interests.”
“We are equally enthusiastic about opening up additional opportunities for our faculty to contribute their academic guidance and creative ideas for study abroad programs,” she added. “In addition to the advice we glean from the Study Abroad Academic Advisory Council, led by Director of Study Abroad Rob Hallworth, we are involving area and topic specialists to build programs that integrate campus-based and international learning.”
According to Dr. Scarboro, two additional areas of ITF focus are increasing study abroad participation during the fall semester “to foster a more even distribution of students studying overseas across the academic calendar” and encouraging more GW students to seek cultural and educational immersion experiences by “taking a closer look at our excellent exchange partners around the globe.”
“Evening out the number of students studying abroad over the fall and spring semesters will maximize the use of our dormitories throughout the year, as well as allow admissions to raise its target by a modest number of students,” she explained.
Dr. Scarboro credited the ITF with fueling “a convergence of energy and effort” around expanding study abroad. “The ITF gives study abroad a new level of visibility,” she said. “Our goal is to ensure that every GW student interested in studying abroad is able to take advantage of a meaningful and unique international education experience that will deeply influence how they chart their course for the rest of their lives.”