Spring Marks Four Firsts in UC Study Abroad

Worries about war aren’t having a significant impact on plans for UC students to study abroad. As spring break launches the busy season for international study, more than 220 UC students are headed for international destinations. UC boasts four programs with firsts for the university among this spring’s travel programs.

According to the university’s

Institute for Global Studies and Affairs

, those milestones include:

• UC’s first exchange program with New Zealand. Two College of Law students are studying at the University of Canterbury for five months.
  
  
• An inaugural “service learning” program in an international setting, organized by the College of Business Administration. Service learning, which combines academic credit with community service, will take 10 students to Costa Rica to build homes with Habitat for Humanity.
  
  
• A first learning community organized for study abroad. Fifteen students have formed a community that met in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences during winter quarter to learn about cultural differences globally. The students will travel to Italy for a spring break arts tour.
  
  
• The first for-credit international study program with an African destination. Africa remains the least-frequented region for U.S. students studying abroad, but that is beginning to change. UC hopes in future years to expand its activities on this continent. This year’s trip, through the College of Business Administration, takes 12 MBA students to companies in South Africa.

Prior to departure for study abroad programs, IGSA takes steps to provide students with pre-trip orientation on safety, security and emergency procedures as well as tips on traveling with a low profile. In many cases, it also offers funding.

Spring 2003 travel programs at a glance.
Safety and security preparation