Gaiter added that her students came away with more than just a greater understanding of Cuban art, but also of global politics.

“I think that one of the things my students realize is that politics are complicated and that there is never any clear answer or explanation for anything,” she said.

Destination: Brazil

In Brazil, 13 students joined Sue Barton, professor of plant and soil sciences, on a program to experience the Amazon River and Rio de Janeiro. In Rio de Janeiro, the group visited several gardens designed by Roberto Burle Marx, the landscape architect credited with beginning the native plant movement in landscape architecture. This proved a special moment for those who hope to pursue a career in the field.

Destination: Dominica

For Tony Seraphin, associate professor of mathematical sciences, and Steven Hastings, professor of applied economics and statistics, Dominica also presented a unique landscape to explore academic content.

“Being a very small island, Dominica does not have the sort of resources you often see in the United States and in some European countries,” said Seraphin, himself a native of the island nation. “What they do have are lots of water, rivers and forests. The environment is just ideal for conducting the geography and applied economics and statistics courses we offer.”

Students on the program experienced firsthand the country’s distinct fusion of African, British and indigenous culture. Seraphin works annually with the government’s Division of Culture to organize the event.

“The cultural show was a big hit for our students, and it was put on specifically for them,” Seraphin said. “Here, our students see and hear a variety of dances and music that have been inherited and passed on over the years.” 

Destination: Southeast Asia

John Stocker, faculty director of the finance program to Vietnam and Cambodia, added that cultural immersion is one of the most valuable elements of his study abroad program.

“I want to give my students a sense of the region and what it is like to work in international business,” Stocker said. “One of the things that I have learned is that you do not necessarily have to like what you see, but you do have to understand it if you are going to do business there.”

Destination: South Africa

Those participating in Norma Gaines-Hanks’ and Ann Aviles’ human development and family sciences program to South Africa came away not only having better understood their host culture, but also themselves, through service to local communities.

“A lot of my students see themselves as having lived in a bubble,” Gaines-Hanks said. “So, what we do is we take them to places where they have to step out of that bubble and experience a level of cognitive dissonance. They write about these experiences, reflect on them, and begin to identify their own areas of growth in working with diverse populations.”

Apply Now

UD undergraduate students interested in studying abroad during Winter 2019 are encouraged to visit the Institute for Global Studies website and apply by Friday, April 20, at 5 p.m. Select programs will accept applicants through September 20.

To see real-time moments of UD students exploring the world, follow along @UDGlobal on Instagram, Twitter, and the UDAbroad Blog and engage using the hashtag #UDAbroad.

About the Institute for Global Studies

The Institute for Global Studies was created in 2009 to enhance the international dimensions of teaching, research and outreach at the University of Delaware. IGS provides leadership and support for programs and experiences that contribute to the education of informed, skilled, open-minded citizens of the world.

Best known for coordinating the University’s study abroad program, IGS also awards scholarships and grants to faculty and students for a number of global opportunities, and administers internationally recognized State Department-sponsored programs such as the UD Fulbright Initiative, Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Student Leaders Institute, Mandela Washington Fellowship Program for Young African Leaders, and most recently the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders on Women’s Leadership (SUSI-WL) program.

IGS is the home of the UD Alternative Breaks Program and sponsors such signature events as Global Month each fall and country-specific celebrations each spring.

IGS collaborates with other global partners on campus, including the Office for International Students and Scholars, the Confucius Institute and the Center for Global and Area Studies. In addition, IGS partners with Enrollment Management to coordinate the UD World Scholars Program.