XVII Congress of the Brazilian Studies Association

Gaps in Global Education: Insights in Expanding Access to International Education through Short-Term Academic Programs

• In Event: US Academic Mobility in Brazil: Innovations and Advancements in International Education

Abstract

Despite the expansion of international education across the world in recent decades, the key players in this field still have considerable work to do in reaching a wider contingent of students. This presentation focuses on broadening access to and engagement with international education between the United States and Brazil. While structural inequalities in Brazil limit the number of students that can go abroad, the idiosyncrasies of global education programming in the US and the unique needs of US students often times also limit the extent to which US students choose Brazil as a destination. With this dual deficit in mind, this presentation aims to show how short-term academic programs can be a catalyst for attracting more American students to Brazil, which fosters intercultural learning for US and Brazilian students alike.

The presentation will draw on the experience and methodology of Campus B, an international education provider based in São Paulo, Brazil, which has designed and operated study abroad programs since 2010. Tracing the history of the evolution of the company’s activities will evidence emerging trends in the international education field, such as the increasing importance of practical, skills-based components in study abroad experiences. These trends, in turn, have helped to shape Campus B’s International Project-Based Learning (iPBL) methodology, which not only better serves the US market but also presents an opportunity to expand internationalization within Brazil. These insights will set the foundation for the subsequent presentations, which dive into the design and outcomes of specific programs operated with Campus B.

Author

• Daniel Amgarten, campus b