Goshen College Awarded Grant for Study Abroad
(photo courtesy of Goshen College)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowGoshen College has been selected to receive an IDEAS grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Capacity Building Program for U.S. Study Abroad. The college says it is one of 26 colleges and universities selected to create, expand or diversify American student mobility overseas in support of U.S. foreign policy goals.
The program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and supported in its implementation by World Learning.
“Although student demographics and the global context for study abroad have changed, GC’s commitment to global engagement remains stronger than ever,” said Jan Bender Shetler, director of global engagement. “With the help of this IDEAS grant, we will be able to increase student access to this valuable learning experience as we prepare to meet an institutional core value of global citizenship in the 21st century.”
Goshen College says it will use the grant to further its goal of moving toward a theme-based model of study abroad, where semester or shorter courses address a global issue and service-learning placements align explicitly with majors and career goals. The funding will help pilot the efforts by creating two short-term sustainability courses in India focused on educating students about global issues of energy and natural resources.
“Americans studying abroad serve as citizen ambassadors by building relationships within their host communities, demonstrating American values, and countering stereotypes,” said Heidi Manley, USA study abroad chief, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. “They also gain critical job skills abroad that in turn benefit their home communities.”
Additionally, the college says it will add service-learning assignments aligned with various U.S. foreign policy areas to its Ecuador Study-Service Term program.