The training will provide firsthand experience to help faculty in recruiting and engaging with underrepresented groups of students about the benefits of studying abroad. The visits to the two countries will also provide faculty with opportunities for professional learning and exchange based on the countries’ contributions to advancing contemporary K-12 education.

“Study abroad opportunities can be life changing for students, including students who are first-generation,” said Vessela Ilieva, dean of UVU’s School of Education. “A well-rounded education includes understanding the role of diversity of cultures, languages, and governments. Study abroad opens their minds and imaginations by letting them experience the world beyond Utah to benefit them personally, academically, and professionally.”

Utah Valley University was one of 34 universities across the country to receive a grant from the Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students (IDEAS) program, which is part of the U.S. Department of State. These institutions represent both public and private colleges and universities, as well as eight community colleges and 13 minority-serving institutions from 28 states.

University-Wide Study Abroad Programs

In addition to the School of Education’s program for faculty, UVU offers wide variety of programs for students in China, Cuba, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, Oxford, Samoa, Scotland, Singapore and the United Kingdom, including two at Oxford University. The programs are led by UVU faculty who have expertise on topics and issues found in these countries. There are currently 20 operating programs, with an additional ten proposals for next year.

Courtesy Utah Valley University

“Study abroad really helps students understand their curriculum from a different perspective,” said Brent Spencer, director of UVU’s Study Abroad program. “The same information they are studying at UVU is being taught differently somewhere else in the world. Experiencing that difference gives them a broader perspective by requiring them to adapt and learn in unfamiliar circumstances. They gain an advantage that way.”

In Germany students experience and learn about war history from the Kaiserzeit and Napoleon to the first and second world wars. Their experience includes visits to museums and learning about architecture, science, and Germany’s language, food, and music. Spencer leads programs in India, where students study the history, politics, religions, cultures, and environmental challenges in India.

Students often begin their programs in the summer with online courses before they travel to their selected countries. The in-country experiences last from two to four weeks and there are three to eight college credits available. Semester and year-long programs are also available.

There are many ways students can cover tuition such as using residual UVU scholarship and Pell Grant funds, and by applying for UVU study abroad scholarships and U.S. government-related funding through entities like the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship program.

Natalie Sullivan, a former UVU study abroad student, who studied at Pembroke-King’s College at Cambridge University said, “Cambridge is a beautiful place, and I felt a strong sense of history and respect for learning that allowed me to really concentrate on my academics.

“However, the program had so many fun activities and trips that I was always motivated to finish my work so I could join in. I made so many friends from all over the world and loved traveling with them on weekends or dining with them in the formal halls.

“I am now in the process of applying for Fulbright, Gates, and Marshall scholarships. For those students looking to boost their resume in an international setting, the Pembroke-King’s Program (PKP) is definitely a fun program that provides an opportunity of a lifetime.”

According to Spencer, there are nearly 300 students enrolled in the various programs this year, which is up from around 200 who participated the summer before the pandemic. New programs are announced each September and the enrollment deadline is in February.

For more information go to https://uvu.edu/educationabroad/study-abroad/.