Students interested in pursuing a minor in Spanish should attend an informational session hosted by Juliana Chaszar, a Spanish major and minor adviser and Whitney Strickler, Spain and Latin America Education Abroad adviser, at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13 in 410 Boucke Building. The two will discuss requirements for minoring in Spanish and how to choose courses abroad to count toward the minor. Studying abroad in a Penn State approved program is valuable for Spanish minors to accomplish their goals efficiently with cultural immersion experience. (more)
For many study-abroad students, transferring the credits they earn in European Union schools back to the United States is a complicated and sometimes futile task. Jamie Myers and three of his graduate students collaborated with a European research team to examine how study-abroad credits are recognized by home institutions.
"Credit recognition matters for student mobility between the European Union and the United States," said Myers, professor of education at Penn State. "Students who do not have clear information about whether and how credit from abroad will be recognized or those who fear that their qualifications may not be adequately recognized when pursuing their studies abroad are less likely to be mobile or will opt for those countries where these risks are perceived as being lower." (more)
Students can chat face-to-face with other Penn State students studying across the globe at Penn State Around the World from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25, in the Global Programs Lounge in 410 Boucke Building. The third annual event will give University Park students the chance to ask fellow Penn Staters why they chose their program and destination and what they liked about it. (more)
The reality of urbanization and industrialization is leaving a mark on an important life-sustaining resource -- water -- especially in China. Students from Penn State University and China's Jiangnan University recently addressed the problem head-on, undertaking field research on the shores of Lake Taihu, China's third largest fresh water lake, from May 14-31. While there, they studied the effects of industrial, municipal and urban development within Jiangsu Province- -- one of the most industrialized regions in China -- and offered strategic suggestions for the lake's restoration. (more)
Roughly 20 Penn State students, most from the Lehigh Valley campus, depart on Thursday, May 19 for a short-term study abroad experience in Beijing, China (see previous story, "Faculty collaborate to create global citizens"). Led by two Penn State Lehigh Valley professors, the students will spend two weeks studying communication and business topics at the Capitol University of Economics and Business, as well as tour some of the historical and cultural highlights of the emerging world power. While there, one Lehigh Valley student, D. Samuel Greene, will blog about his and fellow classmates' experience. (more)
Two faculty members from Penn State Lehigh Valley have combined their efforts to offer students a short-term study abroad experience in China as well as credit for the courses taken in conjunction with the opportunity. This collaboration is an example of how many Penn State faculty across varied academic disciplines are collaborating to foster the global perspective students need to be competitive after graduation. (more)
The University Office of Global Programs Education Abroad has extended deadlines for two programs:
Study Abroad Athens 2012 has been extended to Sunday, May 15. Learn more about the program at http://www.athens.psu.edu/2012 or the attend information session for this program held at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13, in 424 Boucke Building.
The Parks and People: Cape Town, South Africa 2012 deadline has been extended to September 15. Click here to learn more about the Parks and People: Cape Town, South Africa program or visit www.global.psu.edu/ea. (more)
It's never too early to plan a semester abroad. Begin the quest to do so at the Study Abroad 101 hosted by the University Office of Global Programs at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6, in 251 Willard Building. Global Ambassadors will provide the basics on study abroad and give interested students the tools to ask the right questions. Learn the difference between program types, program duration, financial aid and debunk the myths surrounding study abroad. For more information please contact Kristin Thomas at KLT16@psu.edu. (more)
Learn how to fund a study abroad experience by connecting with a University Office of Global Programs Abroad Adviser, online at noon on Wednesday, March 23. Students will learn about financial aid, scholarships, online databases and community aid available to make education abroad affordable. Students can access the financial aid session remotely through Adobe Connect by visiting: https://breeze.psu.edu/eapromotion/. Students who are not currently at University Park can also attend the session by using the same link. (more)
In 2004, a partnership between Penn State and the Pennsylvania Department of Education began bringing real-world conservation and environmental sustainability research into the hands of K-12 teachers across the state with the CHANCE program (Connecting Humans and Nature through Conservation Experiences). Since then, CHANCE has grown exponentially in its mission and now includes opportunities for teachers outside the Commonwealth as well as Penn State undergraduates. To meet the expanded needs of the program, CHANCE recently launched a new website (www.chance.psu.edu) and added a new field experience opportunity for students to travel to China. (more)
