EdAbroadCon!
The Education Abroad office is partnering with our study abroad providers, support offices, and departmental academic advisors to offer themed content sessions highlighting resources, opportunities, and programs for particular areas of study and identity groups. This conference will feature some of the opportunities WWU students and faculty have to participate in education abroad, and resources available to help facilitate their international experience.
There will be a mix of live and recorded events, review the full schedule below. Be sure to register in advance for live sessions that require registration. All times listed in Pacific Time (PST).
Check back often as more events are scheduled. All events will be recorded and available through this website.
Prepare with a Western Abroad 101 Information Session
Start with a virtual Western Abroad 101 Information Session to learn everything you need to know about education abroad through WWU!
Sign up to Learn More!
Complete the webform so you receive updates about international opportunities and follow-up from WWU Education Abroad and program providers!
Live Sessions: Join us for Live Interactive Sessions!
Tuesday, 2/23
CIEE Spotlight Series: Hidden Gems
Join us for a CIEE Spotlight Series and hear from CIEE's regional director in Amman, Cape Town, Ghana, Monteverde, and Rabat.
Find out what to expect from your study abroad experience in 2021, get answers to your questions, learn more about safety measures, program assurance, and support, and get the chance to know CIEE's regional director!
SIT Open House – Nepal: Geoscience in the Himalaya
View the Recorded Webinar (Password: Conversations2021)
Join Academic Director Beth Pratt-Sitaula, PhD as she provides an overview of the Nepal: Geoscience in the Himalaya immersive summer program. At the end, there will be a Q&A session to ask any of your questions.
Making Study Abroad Affordable with USAC
CEA Global Dialogue Series: Recent Unrests: Civil Rights and Nationalism
Both the United States and Europe are not new to social turmoil connected to civil rights and nationalism. What are the reasons for and implications of the most recent uprisings? Let's discuss.
Western Abroad 101 Information Session
Join EdAbroad advisor Hannah Nevitt for a live general information session about all education abroad opportunities, scholarships, and travel in a COVID world! This session is appropriate for students, faculty, and staff and will cover all types of education abroad, how to find and fund an education abroad experience.
Developing a Global Learning Program
Join this session to learn more about developing, proposing, and executing a faculty-led study abroad program, called Global Learning Programs at Western. Presenters: Education Abroad Director, Dr. Ryan Larsen; Can-Am Director, Dr. Christina Keppie; and Institute for Village Studies Director, Ashley Hollenbeck
International Exchanges
Join EdAbroad Exchange Advisor Dan Lindeman for a 30 minute comprehensive overview of international exchange options. Don't know what an exchange is? Be sure to attend a Western Abroad 101 and review our website.
Passport Party
Having a valid passport is one of the first steps in planning your international experience. Join the Seattle Passport Agency, CEA Study Abroad, and EdAbroad advisors for a fun event where you will receive information and assistance on applying or renewing a U.S. passport.
All participants who register will receive a $95 application fee waiver for a future CEA program and one lucky winner will receive a $500 deposit waiver for a CEA program!
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Domestic Study Opportunities
Did you know that you can study abroad domestically?! In this 30 minute session, learn about your options to study at another institution in the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, & U.S. Virgin Islands through the National Student Exchange! Also, explore adventure learning through Wildlands Studies with their domestic field based programs offering credit through Huxley College of the Environment.
The African American Journey: Race in Zora Neale Hurston
For Black History Month Alassane Abdoulaye Dia, Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Université Virtuelle du Senegal, will discuss how Zora Neale Hurston's writings can be viewed as a means to fight for black civil rights. It will focus on Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God and Moses, Man of the Mountain. Alassane has taught WWU students in the Global Learning Program in Senegal.
Wildlands Studies Information Session
Experience the planet and learn how to help save it.
Explore domestic and international study abroad programs with Wildlands Studies where you can have a life changing experience and earn up to 15 Huxley College of the Environment credits!
Global Ambassadors Club Game Night
Join the WWU Global Ambassadors Club for game night! See more info about Global Ambassadors.
Wednesday, 2/24
Real Talk with ISA: See Your Own Identity Abroad
Join us to ask your REAL QUESTIONS to a member of the ISA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and your Regional Director. Together we can help make your international educational experience a reality. We offer extensive individualized support centering on the needs of underrepresented student populations including: students of color, first generation college students, members of the LGBTQ+ community, students with disabilities, and others!
API Information Session: Study Abroad in Italy
Join us for an information session to learn about API's programs in Italy, the application process, and to get your specific questions answered by one of our program experts! Plus, one lucky attendee will get their application deposit waived! Just join the webinar and stay until the end when we'll select an attendee at random and award the winner! Must be present to win!
The Pragmatic Use of Gestures in Italian: How to Survive in Italy Using Your Hands
Join two faculty from the USAC Italy Specialty Program sites for this Academic Lecture. Both lecturers have recently acquired skills in online teaching, using different platforms like Classroom, Teams and Moodle, and have completed trainings through ACTFL to develop proficiency while teaching remotely. They will provide different techniques for teaching and learning hand gestures for language instructors and language learners.
Explore Buenos Aires: Mate & Alfajores with CEA Staff
Buenos Aires is often called the “Europe” of South America, but it is so much more! Come visit with Buenos Aires locals to learn about life in Argentina through a different lens. CEA staff Maggie Fitzgerald & Jose Balza look forward to bringing Buenos Aires to WWU!
Alumni Perspectives on the SIT Study Abroad Experience
View the Recorded Webinar (Password: Conversations2021)
Discover what life is like on SIT Study Abroad programs from those who know best—our alumni. Recent SIT alumni who studied in Switzerland, Tanzania, and Mongolia, and with the comparative IHP: Food Systems program, will share their experiences with culture shock, coursework, budgeting, homestays, and more. They will also share how their unique backgrounds and identities shaped their experiences abroad. Bring your questions for this open discussion!
Honors Abroad
Huxley Environmental Career & Internship Fair
This event is open to all students and majors and highlights opportunities in environmental fields and industries. Check out your options for international internships related to environmental studies and sciences.
Navigating the Seas on Funding your Voyage!
Join us for an information session to learn more about Semester at Sea and how to fund your voyage! Semester at Sea is a multiple-country study abroad program based on board a ship, which emphasizes comparative academic examination, hands-on field experiences, and meaningful engagement in the global community. Come sail the world with us and visit 13-14 different countries around the world. This program will change your life!
Social & Environmental Justice Study Abroad Programs
View Recording of Social & Environmental Justice Programs
Interested in Social and Environmental Justice? This session will showcase a variety of programs all over the world featuring coursework and internships focused on Social & Environmental Justice.
Scholarships & Financial Aid for Study Abroad
Come to this session to learn more about Scholarships & Financial Aid for Study Abroad. Live Q&A to follow the presentation.
Presenters: Hannah Nevitt, Education Abroad and Molly Paterson, Financial Aid
Thursday, 2/25
American Universities Abroad International Graduate School Fair
Join this interactive session as we explore the benefits of combining the best qualities of an American liberal arts education with the international network and cultural heritage of major European cities. Come learn about the transformative experience of pursuing your graduate degree at a U.S. accredited university while immersed in a dynamic European city. Our virtual fair will introduce you to the range of programs offered by our partner universities across Europe.
Translating your Study Abroad into Careers with the U.S. Department of State
Are you interested in pursuing a career abroad and in support of U.S. Diplomacy? The U.S. Department of State represents U.S. interests around the world. The Department’s employees, with their skills, character, and commitment to public service, are the backbone of America’s diplomacy. Join Diplomat in Residence for the Northwest Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm to learn about the variety of career and student opportunities and how you can serve your country by working in any one of more than 270 U.S. embassies, consulates, and missions overseas, or in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Department of State offers excellent careers, professional growth opportunities, and benefits, and seeks to recruit a diverse workforce to represent the United States.
Cooking Class: “Upside Down” with SIT Jordan
View the Recorded Webinar (Password: Conversations2021)
Immerse yourself in Jordanian culture by cooking the traditional, family dish Maglobeh (literally, “upside down”) with the help of SIT Jordan Academic Director Raed Al-Tabini, PhD and a local SIT homestay mother.
LGBTQ+ Students and Study Abroad
Join LGBTQ+ Western Director Litav Langley and EdAbroad Director Ryan Larsen for a discussion on LGBTQ+ students studying abroad. Learn more about issues specific to LGBTQ+ students, such as country-specific safety for queer folks, passport gender requirements, taking medication abroad, Queer Studies programs abroad, and why studying abroad is such a meaningful experience.
Virtual Global Internships: Access to Resume Builders!
An internship provides valuable work experience, exploration of a career path, development of skills, networking opportunities, fulfilling of degree requirements, and more! Join The Intern Group, ISA Global Remote Internships and Career Semester, SIT Study Abroad and AIFS Global Experiences for 30 minutes as we highlight both in-person and virtual international internships.
Teach Abroad Opportunities and Benefits
Join Stephen Bush, CIEE’s Director of Teach Abroad and TEFL Programs to learn how you can gain international work experience and build transferrable skills by teaching English abroad.
SIT Study Abroad & Critical Language Scholarships
Join EdAbroad Advisor Krista Mantello and SIT Study Abroad (School for International Training) University Relations Manager Shun Yanagishita for a 30 minute session on opportunities to study critical need languages abroad!
Live Tour of San Jose, Costa Rica with CEA
Come meet CEA’s Program Director, Maggie Banchs, and get a live tour of San Jose, Costa Rica! Maggie will answer your questions while providing you with a tour of downtown San Jose where you can expect to spend some of your free time outside of class. She will also provide an overview of CEA Costa Rica student life and what San Jose has been like during the pandemic.
Peace Corps: Work for the World
Join Abby Senuty, WWU’s Peace Corps Campus Recruiter, to learn about opportunities to develop your career and participate in grassroots-driven community efforts with the Peace Corps. This 30 minute session will cover Peace Corps’ approach to living and working abroad, types of opportunities available, and benefits of Peace Corps service, followed by time for Q&A.
Recorded Sessions: Review at Your Own Pace
Amanda Gorman Shares Her Study Abroad Story
"It was so life-changing and phenomenal; I don’t think that I would be who I am today without that experience.”
- Amanda Gorman
Artist, activist, study abroad alum, and more. These are just a few of the many descriptors for the first-ever U.S. National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman, who recently spoke at the inauguration of President Joe Biden. In this video Amanda shines light on her study abroad experience.
USAC 101 - Study Abroad With USAC
SAI Study Abroad: Informational Video
USAC Virtual Internship - Alumni Q&A: The Benefits of a Virtual Internship
Benefits of a Remote Internship with The Intern Group
Hear from three participants about the rewarding global virtual internship program!
Graduate School Abroad 101
My Time in Prague by Kyra Bruce
"I studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic thanks to the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship. The Gilman Scholarship is a federal grant program that helps lower-income students study abroad."
A Day in the Life Studying Abroad in Stellenbosch, South Africa
Study Abroad: Music in Ghana
WWU Visiting Scholar Korean Cooking Class
Watch Dohun Kwon, visiting scholar from South Korea as he teaches how to make this delicious Korean recipe!
How to Find and Win Competitive Fellowships with Dr. Vicki Johnson
Learn Japanese in the Heart of Tokyo with KCP International
USAC: A Day in the Life Studying Abroad in Santiago, Chile
Fellowships Abroad
Review the WWU Fellowships presentation and if you are interested in more information, complete this interest form.
Bring the classroom to life with Wildlands Studies
USAC Global Perspectives Cultural Workshop: Yoga from India
USAC Global Career Workshop
Interested in an international career? Listen to a panel discussion from five USAC team members as a part of USAC's Global Perspectives Program and USAC Week 2021.
Studying Abroad in Nepal with Institute for Village Studies
Academics
Academic Advising Center: Meet with an Academic Advisor regularly to ensure good progress towards academic goals and to stay current on Western academic policies and opportunities.
Modern & Classical Languages (MCL): Students in MCL can increase their language proficiency and gain intercultural competence through travel, work, and study abroad. Students should consult with the coordinator of the appropriate language section to discuss transfer credit well in advance. Explore education abroad opportunities for language and linguistic studies on our MAP’s: Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Linguistics, Spanish.
Departmental Academic Advising Form for Study Abroad: Use this form to facilitate a conversation about credit transfer with your Major, Minor, and/or Honors department advisor.
Major Advising Pages (MAP's)
Explore programs based on your major, minor, area of study, and finances on our MAP's!
Global Learning Programs
Western’s faculty-led study abroad programs are called Global Learning Programs. Most programs average two to three weeks, but some are as short as one week and as long as a quarter. What makes these programs special is that you get to study your academic discipline in an applied way with your professor and a cohort of ten to 15 peers.
Upcoming Global Learning Programs:
- Canada - Summer in Montreal, Summer 2022
- Dominican Republic, Culture, Language, and Public Health in the Caribbean, Winter 2022
- Honors in Ecuador, Summer 2022
- Applied Studies in Mediterranean Sustainable Development in Greece, Summer 2022
- Honors 103: Navigating the Human Experience Abroad in Greece, Fall 2021
- Literature, Migration, & Language in Ireland, Spring 2022
- Business and Food Cultures of Switzerland and Italy: Entrepreneurship, sustainability, and heritage in Tuscany, Summer 2022
- Guanajuato, Mexico: World Heritage City, Summer 2022
- International Business and Environmental Sustainability in Mexico, Summer 2022
- Biocultural Diversity in Nepal, Fall 2021
- Senegal, Winter 2022
Scholarships for Education Abroad
Do you know the #1 reason students are not awarded scholarships? It is because they don't apply! There are a wide variety of scholarships available to fund education abroad. Check out some of these amazing funding resources and apply by the deadlines!
- Benjamin Gilman Scholarship
- Critical Language Scholarship
- Benjamin Gilman Critical Need Language Award
- Diversity Abroad Inclusive Ireland Scholarship
- Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship
- Freeman ASIA
- Fulbright UK Summer Institutes
- Fund for Education Abroad (FEA)
- NAFSA Tamara H. Bryant Memorial Scholarship
- Point Foundation (Point) The National LGBTQ Scholarship Fund
- Rainbow Scholarship
- The Diverse International Women Of Color Scholarship
- WWU Education Abroad Scholarships
WWU Student Shadia Amir currently studying in Thailand funded by Scholarships
Connect with Student Alumni: Travel Writing Program
Former study abroad and exchange participants share their experiences and tips through the Travel Writing Program. The program prompts students to reflect on their experience pre-departure through return. We have highlighted a few blogs below and you can check out all of the entries on our website.
Traveling with Anxiety by Samantha Cook
5 Tips for Applying for the Freeman Scholarship by Alicia Prokopenko
Tips For Financing Study Abroad & the Gilman Scholarship by Kylund Prior
Portugal: Mid-Program by Jeremy Caldeira
"Now that I have a routine here, I will describe my daily routine on a typical day. I will also reflect back on the goals I set for myself, and how those have been going lately. What has surprised me along the way? What have I learned so far? Find out by reading onward."
International Experience and Your Resume
South Korea: End of Program by Brooke Chong
Connect with International Students: Buddy Program
The International Buddy Program is coordinated by International Student & Scholar Services and pairs international & exchange students with domestic (U.S.) students at WWU, based on common interests. US students can help international students get to know Western and Bellingham. Buddies can share their cultures, languages, and participate in activities together.
To serve as a buddy, complete the form provided in the ISSS WIN page!
Connect with Global Ambassadors Club
Want to stay internationally engaged at WWU? Join the WWU Global Ambassadors Club!
Attend monthly “socials,” coffee series, and professional networking events. Check out all events on WIN. Global Ambassadors provides a safe space for students who have been abroad, or international students studying here at WWU, to share their experiences with other students whom have also been abroad, as well as aim to connect with other internationally focused groups to promote an understanding and appreciation of global perspectives.
If you are interested in being a part of this club please contact globalambassadorswwu@gmail.com and check out the Facebook page WWU Global Ambassadors.
Global Ambassadors Leadership Team
Globetrotter Newsletter
“The purpose of this newsletter is to provide an organized source of all sorts of material related to travel, studying abroad, and global citizenship.” – Jeremy Caldeira, Editor
Issue D: February 2021
Issue C: January 2021
Issue B: November 2020
Issue A: October 2020
Connect with Advisors: Schedule a 1-1 Meeting
The Education Abroad staff and approved program providers are here to support you on your education abroad journey. Below you will find contact information and the ability to schedule a virtual meeting at your convenience.
Program Provider Contacts
Academic Programs International (API): Leiann Mar
American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS): Michelle Walters
CEA Study Abroad (CEA): Laura Madden
Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE): Tyler D'Andrea
International Student Exchange Program (ISEP): Emily Greenblatt
International Studies Abroad (ISA): Colton Oliphant
KCP International Japanese Language School: Mike Anderson
National Student Exchange: Dan Lindeman
School for Field Studies (SFS): Devin Foxall
SIT Study Abroad: Shun Yanagishita
Semester at Sea: Brittni Weimer
The Intern Group: Nicole Senchack
WWU Advisors
EdAbroad advisors are available to meet with you virtually to get your questions answered!
Hannah Nevitt: General, Study Abroad, Virtual, Scholarships, Global Ambassadors Advisor
Dan Lindeman: Western and ISEP International Exchange, National Student Exchange (NSE), KCP International
Krista Mantello: Study Abroad, Global Learning Faculty-led programs, Internships, Independent Study, Virtual, Scholarships
