PROGRAMMING
PARTNERS
T
he coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris on Nov. 13 drove home
the importance of working closely with study abroad providers
and other local experts on faculty-led programs. “It now feels
more important than ever to help students become more culturally aware
of what’s going on in the world,” says Ailsa Brookes, Director of Programs
and Senior Vice President of the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS).
AIFS organizes approximately 95 faculty-led study abroad programs annually
for about 60 universities worldwide. Shortly after the Paris attacks, the
organization received a call from the parent of a college student spending
a semester in Salzburg, Austria, who was concerned about media reports
linking refugees and terrorists. The city has seen an influx of refugees this
year. Less than a week after the call, AIFS organized representatives from local
agencies that help refugees in Salzburg to lead a workshop for students and
faculty on the political and social climate in the city.
Offering services such as these are what set apart experienced study abroad
providers from mere travel agencies. When universities work in partnership
with providers to develop programs, the result is a rich educational and
cultural experience for students. “If you work with a study abroad provider
that can give you the full package—everything from on-site services to
emergency support—it’s really fantastic,” says Ali Droster, an advisor in the
Office of International Studies Abroad at the University of San Diego.
STUDY ABROAD
PROVIDERS
TEAM WITH
UNIVERSITIES TO
ENRICH ACADEMIC
AND CULTURAL
OPPORTUNITIES.
WORKING TOGETHER
YIELDS RESULTS
Brookes and Droster agree that successful alliances between
universities and study abroad providers enhance programs.
“One of the questions people ask about faculty-led programs
is how they are different from what’s offered on campus,”
says Brookes. “It’s our priority to work with faculty and study
abroad advisors to supplement the academic program.” AIFS
has done everything from lining up acting workshops at the
Globe Theatre for drama students in London to organizing
clinical visits to healthcare facilities in Buenos Aires,
Argentina, for students in a health sciences program.
As you select and collaborate with a study abroad
provider, here are a few things to consider:
n
Partner with an industry expert. “There are a lot
of providers coming into the study abroad space who are
travel agents,” says Brookes. “If the university is looking for
someone to book hotels and tour guides, that’s OK. But
if you’re really looking for someone to build an academic
program, then select a study abroad provider with a
good reputation and proven record.” How can you judge
a provider? Get references from other colleges, check
if the organization is involved in NAFSA and see if they
subscribe to the Forum on Education Abroad’s Standards
of Good Practice.
n
Pick a partner that customizes programs.
“Establish a relationship where the provider is interested in
meeting the needs of your office, students and university
rather than trying to fit you into their mold,” says Brookes.
The best faculty-led study abroad programs will reflect the
overall mission and goals of your university rather than be
chosen from a company catalog.
n
Start program planning early. “The key for us is to
be involved in the planning process from the beginning—to
get a clear understanding of what the academic program
is intended to be and what the faculty member wants
to achieve,” says Brookes. She likes to begin talking with
university advisors and faculty at least a year in advance.
SUPPORT EXTENDS
BEYOND TRAVEL
ARRANGEMENTS
Droster’s office facilitates about 20 faculty-led study
abroad programs for more than 400 undergraduates each
year. The four study abroad advisors and associate director
in the university’s Office of International Studies Abroad
work hand-in-hand with faculty to develop programs
as fully as possible, but they often rely on study abroad
providers to flesh out details.
“If we’re going to a new location where faculty don’t have
a lot of local contacts, study abroad providers are really
great at making sure the course is experiential and tied
to the community,” says Droster, who oversees programs
in continental Europe. Providers are adept at lining up
in-country guest speakers and field trips that complement
a faculty member’s program as well as arranging creature
comforts such as housing.
Droster is partnering with two study abroad providers for
trips in 2016. She has worked with one of them, CEA,
for four years and praises their student support services.
“They have set up processes for students with learning
differences, especially connecting students with note
takers,” says Droster. “Those students want to keep their
privacy, but still need access to notes in a timely fashion.”
n
n
Share your goals. Brookes recalls a conversation
with a business professor from Chapman University
in Orange, Calif., who wanted to spearhead a
service leadership program in France. Brookes
discovered the professor wanted to line up several
visits to local organizations where students could
participate in deep discussions with people working
there. “After we talked on the phone, it became
really clear to me that what he was trying to achieve
could be much better done in the United Kingdom,
where there is no language barrier,” says Brookes.
Chapman University switched countries, and the
program was a resounding success.
Don’t be shy about asking for what you
need. “Providers are usually great about giving you
deadlines for when they need things, but sometimes
they don’t mesh well with university timelines,” says
Droster. “Providers are often very flexible if you simply
communicate those differences and be upfront with
what you need. Just ask.” If study abroad providers
can’t accommodate your requests, it may have to do
with regulations or conventions in the host country.
So having an honest conversation with the study
abroad organization may not yield the results you
hoped, but can provide cultural insight.
n
Keep in close contact. “Always have the study
abroad provider’s contact information at the ready,”
says Droster. Never has that advice been more astute
than following the terrorist attacks on Paris, when
schools with students studying in France and around
the world fielded questions from concerned family
members about the safety of their children.
“It’s crucial to team
with a provider
that can take care
of your students
in any given situation,” says
Brookes. “You can work with
anybody when things are
going well. The key is when
there’s an issue. Collaborate
with a study abroad provider
that’s absolutely student
focused.”
ABOUT TERRA DOTTA
Our mission at Terra Dotta is to offer the very best products and services in higher education software. We are committed to delivering a user-experience that
transforms the way our clients operate and engage with their constituents. We accomplish this through the continual deployment of best-in-class technology,
and the focus we place on mutual trust in each and every one of our business relationships. These values form the Terra Dotta difference.
For additional information please visit www.terradotta.com