MERRIMACK COLLEGE FACULTY-LED COURSES Maximizing Student Learning through Short-term Study Abroad

Benefits-Study Abroad helps students: develop skills and experiences not learned in a classroom immerse themselves in diverse cultures and learn different languages gain a global perspective acquire skills such as intercultural communication, adaptability, and resilience learn to establish rapport quickly with individuals in an unfamiliar environment build self-confidence and independence be more competitive in the job market

U.S. Study Abroad Trends Study abroad by American students has more than tripled over the past two decades

Who’s studying abroad and where are they going?

Top Fields of Study?

Access In an effort to increase access to study abroad, higher education institutions and study abroad providers have developed programs of various durations:  Short-term (Less than 8 weeks)  Mid-length (semester)  Long-term (full-year)

Duration of Study Abroad: Short-term Study Abroad is Most Popular among College Students % of US students studying abroad Short-term56.6%58.1% Mid-length39.4%38.0% Long-term3.9%

Short-term Study Abroad Increases Access Short-term programs provide opportunities for students who cannot go abroad for an entire semester for various reasons  Cost  Academic Major  Athletes  Confidence

The Problem: Many educational leaders are concerned that students will not achieve the same intercultural competencies in a short-term study abroad program as they would in a semester or full-year program. Tourism vs. immersion

The Solution: Intensive & Focused “Short-term programs, if well-planned, can offer a more intensive and focused experience – and may be the only realistic alternative in terms of the demands of your degree studies and economic resources " (Institute of International Education, Open Doors Report 2012)

What is Intercultural Competence? It is a set of cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills and characteristics that support effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts.  Cognitive: knowledge about cultural norms, values, behaviors, and issues; cultural self-awareness  Affective: curiosity, flexibility, open-mindedness  Behavioral: resourcefulness, problem solving, relationship building skills

Maximizing Intercultural Competence Key components of short-term study abroad courses that maximize intercultural competency attainment  Establishing desired learning outcomes for intercultural competence while abroad  Requiring pre-departure meetings/class time with students and faculty  Meaningful site visits that relate to coursework and  Direct contact with the host community  Structured & intentional reflection before, during and after the program

Short-term programs at Merrimack This year, Merrimack has been offering 4 short-term study abroad programs:  Summer Session in San Gimignano, Italy  “Pellegrinaggio in Italia”, Italy  Summer Session in Wroxton, England (NEW!)  “Writing through War and Peace”, Dublin & Belfast, Ireland (NEW!) Courses offered in previous years:  “Crossing Borders”, Spain & Morocco  “Belizean Landscapes”, Belize Merrimack is hoping to expand short-term program offerings; a wider variety of short-term programs will allow more Merrimack students the chance to go abroad

Summer Session in San Gimignano, Italy

Crossing Borders, Spain & Morocco

Types of Faculty Led Courses Short-term study abroad courses can be applied to any academic discipline Examples:  Sports Medicine – volunteer at a medical clinic abroad  Education – Intern or volunteer at a school abroad  Mathematics –Study geometric architectural patterns in Muslim Spain

Types of Faculty Led Courses Course can be integrated into the Fall/Spring semester  Course can be taught at Merrimack during the Spring semester for Summer programs, or Fall semester for Winter programs  Conclude course with a study abroad component.  Examples:  Crossing Borders  Dublin & Belfast, Ireland Stand alone Summer courses  Have some pre-departure class meetings but do the bulk of the course work while abroad.  Examples:  Summer Session in San Gimignano, Italy  Summer Session in Wroxton, England

How to start a short-term study abroad course? If you have an idea make a proposal! Course proposals  Accepted each year for programs like San Gimignano and Wroxton (2 faculty per program)  Accepted individually for new program proposals  New programs most likely need months lead time Short-term Study Abroad Faculty Handbook  Which provides a clear outline of policies and procedures has been developed and will soon be posted on the Provost’s and Office of International Programs web sites.

… Course proposals are vetted by UCC  Must have clear goals & assessable outcomes 4 credit courses – 15 hours per credit  Credit hours include site visits, intentional experiential learning activities, reflection  Should be a balance between classroom hours and experiential learning hours Course should satisfy various requirements in order to maximize student enrollment.

$100 Grand Challenge What kind of course can you create?