1. Promoting Undergraduate Research through International Partnership – Undergraduate Research Abroad Program at Bridgewater State University Jing Tan (Social work), PhD Teresa King (Psychology), PhD Benjamin Carson (English), PhD

2. The Undergraduate Research Abroad Program at BSU A collaborative effort of BSU's Center for International Engagement and the Office of Undergraduate Research. One faculty mentor collaborates with a small group of three or four students on a focused research or creative project, working together for three weeks at one of BSU's partner institutions around the world. The grant covers airfare, university housing, and most meals, plus stipends of $1,200 for each student and $1,700 for the faculty member. Available for the winter intersession and summer.

3. Objectives Provides a unique opportunity to promote an intensive student learning experience through international partnership. Provides students and faculty great research and travel experience. Enhances the collegiality between BSU and its international partner universities.

4. Examples In the summer of 2009, Dr. King led four psychology students to Jordan to study body image in a Middle Eastern culture. In the summer of 2011, Dr. Tan of Social Work traveled with four students to China to research its aging population and conduct needs assessments of elder care. In the winter of 2012, Dr. Carson of English took four students to Cambodia to research Cambodian literature.

5. Dr. Tan will focus on proposal writing and student mentoring for this type of research. Dr. King will discuss both the challenges and opportunities that her team encountered conducting psychological research in the Middle East. Dr. Carson will focus on the importance of Undergraduate Research Abroad for humanities.