Feb 24, 2021
By Katelyn Kunzman | Education Abroad
The Education Abroad Office, in partnership with the Office of Global Strategies, is pleased to announce the funding of 25 new virtual and global-local experiential learning programs available to students for summer and fall 2021 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.
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 N2025Strategic 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.
Following is a list of faculty and staff leaders funded through the Global Experiences Innovation Fund, sorted by college.
College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
• John Carroll, “Field Guiding in Southern Africa”
• Jon Kerrigan and Chandra Schwab, “The Rise of China and its Global Impact” (cross-listed with College of Business)
• Yalem Teshome, “Traveling with Chocolate from Mesoamerica to West Africa”
College of Arts and Sciences
• 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”
College of Business
• Ashley Light and Cait Naberhaus, curriculum integration project
• Sam Nelson and Mikki Sandin, “Global Startup Communities: An Examination of Entrepreneurship in Rwanda and the U.S.”
• Chandra Schwab and Jon Kerrigan, “The Rise of China and its Global Impact” (cross-listed with College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources)
• Rob Simon, “Marketing For-Profits and Non-Profits in Brazil Today”
• Chris Timm, “Exploring International Careers and Global Employers”
College of Education and Human Sciences
• Elaine Chan, “Comparative Education: Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Teaching”
• Georgia Jones, Dennis Perkey and Jim Benes; “Exploring International Cuisines of Lincoln”
• Sue Kemp, “Virtual Comparison between the Educational and Cultural Perspectives between the U.S. and Costa Rica”
• Elizabeth Niehaus, “Qualitative Data Collection: Virtual International Programs”
• Dennis Perkey and Georgia Jones, “Exploring Greece in Lincoln, Nebraska”
• Paul Springer, “The Exploration of Brazil: The Impact of Systemic Racism on Families, Schools and Communities”
College of Engineering
• Carl Nelson, “Engineering in French Culture”
• Ryan Patrick and Tareq Daher, “Teamwork, Leadership and Dynamic Programming”
College of Journalism and Mass Communications
• Trina Creighton and Marnie Nelson, “Black Lives Matter and the Media: A Global Movement”
• Dane Kiambi, “Colonialism and Racial Injustice in Kenya and South Africa”
• Michelle Hassler, “Passport LNK: Exploring and Engaging Diverse Cultures”
Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts
• Megan Elliott, Anna Henson and Megan McMasters, curriculum integration project, Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts
• Ann Marie Pollard, “Documentary Theatre Practice”
• Ash Smith, “Flyover: Environmental Futures and Rural Speculations”
• Ash Smith, “Seabreeze Bop City”
Read the original story in Nebraska Today.