International Insights: A Collaborative Self-Study

• In Event: International Students and Experiences

Abstract

As colleagues in a College of Education, we worked with a larger team from across our university to design and implement a study abroad experience for students that would connect curriculum to larger themes. In this collaborative self-study, we focused on our experience leading up to and during the study abroad in the summer of 2023. We collaborated with other faculty and staff in an attempt to build a study abroad experience that would allow participants to engage in meaningful visits to sites of cultural and historical importance, as well as community- and school-based settings. We navigated cultural differences in partnering with schools and community resources to carry out excursions and field experiences that would enhance the students’ growth. Reflecting on the process, we explore what we learned, as well as how we can extend international connections and develop similar immersive cultural opportunities in our own local community.

Authors

• Alexandra J Reyes, Georgia Southern University

• Amanda Wall, Georgia Southern University