Teaching Abroad

Global Learning Programs

Global Learning Programs are easily accessible to WWU students and can be readily integrated into their programs of study. They eliminate questions about credit transfer since it is a WWU course offered by a WWU faculty member or team of faculty members. The programs can be offered for the summer or for shorter periods or a quarter during the academic year. These types of programs help internationalize Western in two ways: (1) enhancing the global competencies of the students who participate and (2) giving faculty members opportunities to expand their international experiences.

The success of a Global Learning Program depends on several factors:

  • Course content that is relevant and interesting to a broad number of students;
  • Courses that fulfill specific WWU degree requirements, such as major or minor requirements;
  • Situating the course in a location that reinforces the curricular content and make the site a learning laboratory;
  • A faculty director who can successfully promote the program and recruit students.

For further information about teaching a Global Learning Faculty-led Program, visit the Institute for Global Engagement webpage, and contact Ashley Hollenbeck, Director, Education Abroad 360-650-2116 to discuss your course proposal.

Additional information:

Faculty Exchange Opportunities through Exchange partners

Western Washington University has formal and affiliate agreements with more than 30 universities and institutes around the world. While the focus of our exchange efforts is often on providing our students with international educational opportunities, nearly all have the capacity to involve greater numbers of faculty members, as well.

International exchanges are partnerships that Western has with institutions around the world. They are reciprocal in nature and students participate in quarter or semester exchanges. Western has exchanges with universities in Australia, Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, and the UK. See the complete list of international partnerships on the WWU Institute for Global Engagement website. Faculty exchanges, which often include both teaching and research, strengthen our relationships with our partner institutions and move us a great deal closer to providing WWU graduates with the global competence that the world now demands. 

For further information, please contact Ryan Larsen, Executive Director, Institute for Global Engagement, 360-650-7970.