Tough Question 10

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I studied abroad in Spain because as a native Spanish speaker I wanted to learned more about my language and Spain’s culture. I did not feel that Central’s Mexico program would’ve been helpful to me personally. I wish Central would have had programs in Central America or South America, preferably Chile, Argentina or Uraguay, when I was attending. I majored in Political Science (Global Politics). I strongly believe that had I studied in Central America or South America my understanding and knowledge in Latin American Politics would have expanded.

I think it is a great idea to try to create programes in emerging economies that will be very important for the future like Brazil, India, China, Malaysia. And I think for Spanish, Central has good oportunities in both Spain and Mexico, and with occasional programs in Guatemala. The problem with Brazil might be safety issues, especially for young people who have not travelled much out of the US or even Iowa. On the other hand, Rotary has had exchanged for high school students to Brazil, and if that can work, surely it should be possible to intelligently create a program that doesn’t put students at risk, but at the same time really opens their minds.Morocco is a great destination as well. Especially with so much in the media about Muslims, Arabs, etc. and with the advantage that it has the extra attraction of being located in northern Africa, that is great place for American students. I have been to Casablanca, Fez, Meknes, Marrakesh, Essouira, and it is a great country. Although honestly, I also think it would be difficult to set up. Because in that context the American students, whether they would want to be or not, would serve as mini-Ambassadors of American culture. There would have to be a pretty strict selection process and it might be difficult in that case to attract students. Its really a great place though, so if you want to set something up, I propose myself as the coordinator!

Yes. As a student I studied abroad twice while at Central (Spain and Chicago semester), both of which were amazing experiences that I would NOT trade for the world. However, I think Central should offer more programs in different areas of the world as well. Not everyone has an interest in Europe (which is where most of the programs are located). Many people have an interest in South America and and Southern Africa and I believe those experiences could be even more unique and life changing than the current programs. Most of southern Africa is completely disconnected from the western world and I believe Central students could learn a lot from a cultural or economic standpoint. Beyond that South America would be a fabulous program for biology students (rain forests/tropical climate/different ecology) as well as a language experience.

Having read the latest Central College News magazine, I was happy to learn that there
are a nunmber of students already studying abroad. However, I would hope the students themselves would be allowed to suggest places they might want to study, based on the
safe foreign relations with those countries. I wish I would have had the opportunity to study abroad, however, Central had not broadened its studies to that extent back in the 1950′s.

Thank you for the news from Central. Marion

Italy, or (political stability pending) Greece, for additional language and art/history offerings.
India or some other Asian country with Hindu population.
South America – I’ve had students express interest in Brazil, Peru, and Argentina, somewhere with Portuguese.
Russia would also be very eye opening for students, especially since the Wales program no longer does excursions there.

I wish to add my voice to those of folks like Ed, Monica & Morris. The last question in the post (“what kinds of experiences…”) should drive everything else. It would be a waste to send students to a beautiful/amazing/economically-vibrant country, and not have educational experiences available. My observations suggest that without “knowing people” in-country (including a well-chosen local academic partner), students won’t benefit much.

As for valuable experiences, I would suggest that hands-on activities (internships, service, research) would top the list.

Like most Central students I wrestled with the question, “Do I go abroad or do I continue studying at Central?” There were many factors to weigh, but my biggest ones were potential internship opportunities, financial considerations, time away from family and friends, and the effect of studying abroad on my spiritual development. The decision at first seemed clear. An internship would help my resume, the abroad experience was cheaper than studying at Central, I would be studying with friends, and my family would visit me once while I was abroad. But what about my spiritual development? That was the question that stumped me and actually stopped me from going abroad.

As a student I had heard many stories about how spiritually dry an abroad experience can be. Because my spiritual development outweighed all other factors in my list, my door to studying overseas was quickly shut. But is that really what Central intends with its abroad program? Considering that in recent years Campus Ministries has been told that its role in pre-departure processing “is no longer needed,” I am cynically starting to wonder.

So how does this story come back to “Where in the world should Central College be?” As has been intimated by others, “Where?” has to be coupled with “How?” and “Why?” How should we send students abroad? We should send students abroad by first equipping them to know how they can, if they wish, continue their spiritual development (or other area of interest). Why go abroad? My presumption is so that students can expand their worldview, learn about themselves, and so that they ultimately grow into well-rounded people. But what if a student or group of students specifically wishes to grow in their spirituality? Are we willing to create a program that offers a directed spiritual experience? Are we willing to help students connect with local faith bodies in the countries to which they are traveling? Are we minimally willing to help them process through their spiritual growth before they leave for their abroad experience?

Which matters most, the place or the experience that Central can provide?

I believe the question “Where in the world should Central College be?” is valid, and yet the questions I am left with is “Why? Or What?” No, not why, as in should there even be a Study Abroad program. The question is “What?” as in what are the intended outcomes for students inside of having a Study Abroad program? “Why?” as in why would a student find this valuable? Why would employers find this valuable? What are the key outcomes we believe a student should walk away with, and do these support their future effectiveness? Do students, and employers, find that there is a difference made through having someone study overseas?

To answer these questions I believe it would be valuable to work with students to have them be clear about a path they are pursuing. Additionally, working with employers, whether they are Fortune 500 companies or local school districts, to get their perspectives on the benefit of this experience and what are they really looking for in their employees from this experience. I loved what others have had to say about this, and it is important to look for the difference this experience would make, what are the intended outcomes, and why do we say these outcomes are important.

For a teacher, teaching in Watts, California or Detroit, Michigan or Buffalo, South Dakota, this could be exactly the cultural experience that would truly make the difference. At the same time, an International Business major may find that spending a semester in an internship in Vietnam, Indonesia, or India, could really support them in understanding how to foster business relationships across the globe.

I think “Where” is valid, and it is important to look as an educational community at “What” and “Why”, for these questions allow us to consider what we intend for the future, both for students and their impact on the world.

Having had a BAD study abroad experience in High School I would say- it’s not the country that’s important, it’s the people running the program here and abroad. Things go wrong. Some of them are wholly unanticiapated. It’s scary enough to be in a foreign country- add a crisis and it gets even scarier. If students are to be placed with families- those families need to be vetted. Also, there needs to be a plan in place to bring students home early in the event of unforeseen political events. I’m probably preaching to the choir here. I just wouldn’t want another student to go through what I went through.

Not long ago, Hart Research Associates of Washington, DC interviewed 302 employers. Respondents were executives at private sector and non-profit organizations, including owners, CEOs, presidents, C-suite level executives, and vice presidents. Their findings are published by the Association of American Colleges and Universities: “Raising the Bar: Employers’ Views on College Learning in the Wake of the Economic Downturn.” Employers are now asking from the college graduates they hire the ability to understand the following: the global context of situations and decisions; global issues and developments and their implications for the future; the role of the US in the world; cultural diversity in America and other countries. Employers demand the following skill set: civic knowledge, civic participation, and community engagement; and the ability to apply knowledge and skills to real-world settings through internships or other hands-on experiences. According to this data, Central should continue its existing programs and expand them (as resources allow) to fill the need of our world of business and industry. Also, if we are not yet doing it, the data also suggests that students engage in service learning at all our international study sites. Finally, I would reinforce what has been posted earlier: bringing more and more international students to Pella. The study also reinforces the value of a liberal education in a rapidly changing job market.

Perhaps the question goes both ways? Consider the options of expanding out into a wider world from Central; as well as a wider expansion of the World in to Central. The potential for educational interaction would open up curricular options through travel, technology, and additional sources, that allow any course of study sanctioned through Central College to include world wide interactions of specific course curricula, ( Math, Science, Physical Education, Special Education, Psychology, etc.) where course instruction and instructors focus on the subject from as broad a spectrum as can be designed through presentation, learning, topics, resources that can be envisioned from a fully world-wide process of interactive education.
In this way CUI Elementary Education students in Pella, or Detroit, MI, or Paraguay, for example, experience a Preschool/Kindergarten teaching methods course through the much broader perspectives of instructors and classmates giving and receiving instruction from professors in, or from Pakistan, Argentina, England, Mexico, Norway, Belize, Germany, New York NY, Libya, Wabeno, WI, and Laramie WY.
The potential goes way beyond supporting international students at Central, and Central students in Rome, and Spain. Collaboration and cooperation are certainly required for this world-view process to happen. If Central should be in the World; so should the world be in Central.

Having been the pilot student to the Univ. College Swansea that was dropped and watched with some personal concern for Prof. Moen’s safety while he was in China working on the development of that program we also need to keep in mind the “fit” of any program in the works with the international studies programs we already have at Central. It’s going to take the right partners (academic and otherwise) to expand the program choices along with the patience to build it up to Central’s standards. With that, Brazil, Japan, India, Israel, Turkey, New Zealand, South Africa, and Nigeria all come to mind as countries to consider.

The Middle East!

A lot of students at Central are interested in learning Arabic. More and more, Arabs are becoming more and more connected with the rest of the world, in education, business, and politics. I think a country like Jordan or Lebanon would provide a fascinating yet safe experience for Central students.

I think our programs that are in Western Europe are great. I think that even as we expand to new places we look to our current programs. Almost every student I have talked with has had good experience including chances to grow as a student and a global individual. These study abroad experiences can be replaced by nothing else. I agree with Ryan who talked about a program in Canada allowing for a closer placement but still in a new culture and able to incorporate a language. I know students have taken trips to both Israel and Turkey with professors in the past. I think to study abroad in one of these places would be unique with major cultural and language barriers to overcome. It would be great if Ghana was turned into a semester program as well. As far as Australia I think it would be interesting but I am not sure it truly has as much potential for a changing experience as the other countries do.

I believe that you can not answer the question where should Central be without knowing what is the purpose of Central being there. Cultural? Educational? Thought would also need to go into cost, number of students who would go, how the program would be structured, and how Central would fud the start up. With increasing air fares, tuition, and the additional costs of overseas programs, a new program would only work if it were attractive to students and cost feasible. I agree that Central does need to look outside Europe. But as to what direction, that can not be answered until the rest is thought through as the possibilities are too endless.

Central should be in more Eastern European countries, like Russia or Hungary, and more Asian countries, like Japan.
I think it would be fascinating to have a program in the Middle East, but then that calls into question the safety of the students and the program…but might be a good idea for the future.

Central needs to be in the Middle East. Central could be working at fostering greater understanding of the Arab and Muslim world. There could be opportunities for interfaith learning.

Central should continue to strive for international learning both by sending students and accepting them from afar. Diversity helps us grow and is part of what I remember most from CUI. This blanket statement, in my opinion, should be extending in every REASONABLE way. CUI should use common sense- i.e. don’t send students to the middle east, warring parts of Africa or Central America, etc. Paramount is student safety. Then the availability of the receiving or sending school to be on par with the current and expected status of student upon entering and exiting an afar program. I say afar instead of abroad because I also feel we should look to cross nation as well as over seas programs for the students.

Yes– Central should have more programs in non-western countries, like places in Africa or more places in Asia. Central focuses a lot on a Western worldview, and it would be very helpful to students to try new places. It would also make Central more competitive as far as study abroad goes, because not many schools have programs in Africa.

I believe that the global experience possibilities for our students should be expanded to include the continents of Africa (Morocco, Ghana ) and South America (Brazil) and the Indian subcontinent. Morocco’s history as a pathway between Europe and African created a vibrant intellectual culture that is religiously diverse and inclusive as well. Brazil is a growing economic power in South America with local ties to Pella Corp and Vermeer. India continues to be a rising power. These areas are growing in their economic and cultural influence and impact on the globe. Having a presence in these locations at the front end of their rise in influence will position Central students well in the future.

Great information concerning countries can be viewed at the CIA’s website: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html

I agree that the State side of the study abroad process needs to be cleaned up a little. The experience with the programs over seas is exceptional. I would like to see a program in places such as Russia, Costa Rica, Brazil, and countries in Africa.

I feel a balanced approach should be taken to assess the right strategy here. Factors should include growth markets vs. mature economies, major cities vs. smaller settings, international destinations vs. US-based, and also consideration for physical vs. virtual, potentially connecting teams of students using technologies. In all cases, the decisions must be consistent with our values for the institution.

The above answer is the framework – if asked to “make a choice”, I’d lean heavily on China as well as cities that would enable our students to work/partner with entrepreneurs.

I agree with the Australia/New Zealand program idea, and the interests in Canada, South America, and India. I like the idea of getting at least one program on every (populated) continent. I think having a Canada program would be popular among students who wanted a closer French option, and Australia would be an amazing environmental program. I really like the idea of getting more Asian countries in as well, such as India, Taiwan, or maybe Mongolia or Russia.

I think Australia would be a great place to be set up. I know that the airfare is high; I believe this has been mentioned in prior conversations I’ve had with study abroad offices (Not just Central). But Australia is very diverse, they have the desert (Uluru), culture (Aborigines), Great Barrier Reef; this would be an experience close to the one Dr. Benedict offers with Tropical Ecology. This would be a great trip for a class on Tropical Ecology. They had rainforest as well. They also have Kakadu National Park where Crocodile Dundee was filmed. Australia has many options. New Zealand is also a beautiful country.

I agree with Valerie. I studied abroad in Spain with Jess Baker and I also loved the Moroccan exchange part of our experience. I think that if Central were to add more programs they should definately not be in Europe, but in Central and South America, Africa, the middle east, and India. I think the Ghana program should also have semester long option as well, and we should be doing a better job promoting the China program. If I had learned more about the China program going into looking at study abroad options I probably would have taken the opportunity. Anyways I think Central should look into some more non-european, and probably not Canada, Australia, or New Zealand either, options for study abroad.

I definitely feel that either South Korea or New Zealand should be offered. South Korea is a once in a lifetime experience. You cannot just decide to vacation to South Korea and all I have heard is good feedback from study abroad experiences there. New Zealand is a beautiful country. Personally, I have some family friends that live there so that’s the reason I would love to study abroad there.

A program in Warsaw Poland would be good. I was there for a week and it is really easy to get around as an English speaker. Almost everyone speaks English. The university of Poland is in a great location of the city. Poland is part of the European Union but has a different feel of a typical European country. Australia would be cool too.

A program in Germany or Italy would be a good experience. Australia or New Zealand would also be a popular location.

I think Central is sitting good where we are at. There is a good variety of locations for everyone, no matter the major. I think with the declining numbers in students going abroad, we should focus on maintaining and promoting the relationships with current locations. Would new locations bring more students to the Study Abroad program, or would it just give a different option to those already set on going? These are not easy questions to answer.