Universities and colleges in the U.S. are constantly looking for the best way to provide students an undergraduate education that will help them become well-rounded individuals and “global citizens.”  As a result, rather than following a curriculum that has students only reading about foreign governments, significant movements and historical events in textbooks, educators and advisors are encouraging students to study abroad in order to be immersed in a foreign culture and learn about other countries firsthand.

Traditionally, study abroad has meant students going to cities like London, Rome and, if daring enough, Sydney, but things are changing.  Educators and students, alike, are increasingly looking to programs in non-traditional locations that will challenge the students in a different way.  However, this transition hasn’t been without its concerns.  In NAFSA’s International Educator‘s July/Aug. 2014 issue, one of the articles hones in on dealing with the idea that “programs in nontraditional locations do present challenges that need to be addressed as an essential part of program planning and development so that they will be sustainable and will contribute to the well-being of the people in host locations as well as the students who participate in them.”  The article continues on to discuss how to develop, promote, fund and sustain programs in nontraditional locations, and also provides examples of how successful programs are run and the impact they are having on host communities and students.

This fine balance between the local community and students both being provided an invaluable experience has always been a focus for ISDSI when it comes to running our programs in a sustainable way.  Therefore, it was a honor to be recognized by NAFSA for our work and featured as one of the successful program examples in the above-mentioned article, “Creating Sustainable Education Abroad Programs in Nontraditional Locations.” ISDSI’s photos were also spread throughout the article which was great to see!

Here is a short exert from the article:

Click here to read the full article, “Creating Sustainable Education Abroad Programs in Nontraditional Locations”, in NAFSA’s International Educator Magazine (July + Aug. 14 Issue).

To read more of NAFSA’s International Educator Magazine July + Aug. 14 Issue click here.