Many students hope that their college experience might include hands-on learning activities which are off-site or away from their main campus. Some students even look into such possibilities as part of their college search while comparing options and determining which college to attend. If you have the goal of participating in this type of study abroad or study away program, it’s valuable to do some research about the many options available.
Often colleges and universities have established programs and partnerships to facilitate students’ participation in a new cultural setting. There may be faculty-led trips for course credit for one week, several weeks or a month in a new location, often with hands-on activities that extend the learning outcomes. There may be summer programs and semester-long programs, as well as year-long programs, which can match the tuition at the home institution, provide ease of credit transfer, and keep students on-track for “on-time graduation.”
These types of study abroad programs offer students opportunities to learn and practice communicating in a new language, exposure to different cultures and worldviews, and international connections for a global contact network. The experiences also foster life skills in independence, cooperation, and initiative. Participants report that these are life-changing experiences in which they formed lifelong friendships and gained a better understanding of the world and different perspectives. The academics are often combined with unique excursions that bring the course studies to life.
As an Educational Consultant, I visit many colleges and universities to learn more about their programs, offerings, and campuses so that I can share the information with my clients. Recently I spent time in Ireland, visiting colleges and exchange programs there. In this post I will highlight two of the exchange programs my travels have brought to light, and soon I will post about some of the other college options I visited in Ireland.
Notre Dame Kylemore Abbey Global Centre in Letterfrack, Co. Galway - The University of Notre Dame (IN) has facilities at the historic Kylemore Abbey in Western Ireland where they host a wide variety of residency programs, offering multi-disciplinary programming for deep thinking while also nourishing mind, body, and spirit. From semester courses, summer courses, and internship opportunities to an immersive residential leadership program for experienced leaders, there are many different opportunities to use this beautiful, secluded setting to create and collaborate. The main programming is a variety of summer courses taught by Notre Dame faculty, such as the four-week course Compassionate Care in Medicine, the four-week Kylemore Creative Writing program, and the six-week Engineering & Environmental Science program. The centre also coordinates local activities and cultural enrichment, and students rave about the in-house chef’s good food which is locally sourced! For the Notre Dame students pursuing an academic minor in Irish Language and Literature or in Irish Studies, the Kylemore experience is a great add-on, as well as the other Notre Dame Ireland study abroad options in Dublin, Galway, Donegal, and Kerry!
Sacred Heart University in Dingle - Sacred Heart University (CT) offers their students international experiences at their extended campus in Dingle, Ireland. Semester long programs, shorter term (winter or summer) programs, and workshop options are offered so that students of most majors can use advance planning to work an option into their schedule. A variety of courses tailored to the Irish setting are offered in Biology (e.g. Coastal Ecology of Ireland), Communication/Media/Arts (e.g. Irish Cinema), Health Sciences, Nursing, Business (e.g. Contemporary Issues in Ireland Economics), Exercise Science, Liberal Arts (e.g. Celtic Religious Traditions), and Social Work. Sacred Heart has two campuses in the coastal town of Dingle - the contemporary main campus on the grounds of an old monastery and a building shared with Díseart Institute of Irish Spirituality and Culture, which includes a chapel and outdoor gardens. The schedule allows for students to attend classes four days weekly, with long weekends to engage in the community and surrounding areas. Often the tuition is the same as on the home campus in CT, with financial aid and scholarships maintained in order to help with affordability.
There are so many different study abroad options for students to choose from and every student has their own unique criteria within the college selection process. Confident College Planning guides families along the college planning journey. Whether you’re just starting the process and need some guidance on steps to complete, would like help researching colleges for your specific interests, are looking for funding strategies, or need help fine-tuning your application and essay – we can help! Contact me today at nancy@confidentcollegeplanning.com to set up a meeting and find out more about what I can do for you.
Photo Credit: Sacred Heart University in Dingle
Photo Credit: Notre Dame Kylemore Abbey Global Centre
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