Global education can be a life changing experience and global learning is considered a high impact practice in higher education* with significant educational benefits for participating students. The School of Environment and Natural Resources offers several opportunities for students to experience both formal and informal learning that comes from the opportunity to study and experience diverse cultures and ecosystems abroad. Students will get the chance to learn about three SENR programs at upcoming informational sessions.
Read on to gain a glimpse into last year's Australia program and learn about upcoming information sessions for New Zealand, Australia and Iceland global education programs.
A glimpse of Australia: Human Impacts on the Natural Environment
Education abroad programs are a very important tool in building global awareness, — Jeremy Brooks, associate professor in SENR and one of the resident directors of Australia: Human Impacts on the Natural Environment.
In May 2024 twenty-seven students embarked on a three-and-a-half-week adventure to study the social and ecological dynamics in the Wet Tropics region of North Queensland.
"Within the first few days of the program, students spend time at a family-operated accommodation relying solely on solar power. Students learn about solar power systems through their renewable energy tours," said Pallavi Chandna, who is the academic and global education advisor in SENR. Pallavi contributes to the development of SENR Education Abroad programs and advises ENR students interested in education abroad opportunities.
"After that students travel to different areas in the Wet Tropics - learning about indigenous culture in environmental sustainability and visit with organizations dedicated to conserving the rainforests in Australia. Later students visit the Australian Outback and join an Australian family on a local farm in the Australian countryside," Chandna said. Students then had a chance to camp on a private nature reserve called Sheoak Ridge. Students spent the last third of the trip in Port Douglas, Fitzroy Island, and Cairnes, where they snorkeled, hiked, and swam.
"Of course, one of the highlights is snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef and collecting data to help scientists monitor reef health and catalog various corals and fish species." said Jeremy Brooks, associate professor in SENR and one of the resident directors of Australia: Human Impacts on the Natural Environment. "For many students, snorkeling with sea turtles, rays, and even (harmless) reef sharks is something they'll remember for a long time," said Brooks. Students were also excited about the rich exchanges they had with different Indigenous communities, and learn about the history, culture, and land management practices of the Traditional Custodians.
Education abroad programs expose students to new environments and different ways of seeing and understanding common challenges. They also provide an opportunity to reflect on their home environment, community, culture and upbringing. Sometimes you learn more about your home when you leave it for a bit! So, for me, a key objective of this program is contributing to the next generation of leaders who have a global mindset and who can think critically about their home and their place in the world. — Jeremy Brooks
On the transformative nature of education abroad
The global education programs at SENR are structured around specific learning objectives. In Australia, students are expected to develop an understanding of fundamental ecological principles and the interconnections among various ecosystems in North Queensland. They should also be able to assess the effects of various human and non-human factors on these ecosystems, and combine and utilize concepts from both natural and social sciences to explain the development of human and natural systems.
While the formal learning objectives are central to our programs, Brooks suggests not overlooking the informal learning that takes place through education abroad. "The additional value of education abroad programs is the personal growth the students gain," he said. "This experience provides an opportunity for students to get outside of their comfort zone, learn more about themselves and the world, and reflect on their perceptions of their own culture, society, and environments," he said. "Humanity faces increasingly complex, global sustainable development challenges that will require global coordination and cooperation. The ability to reach across cultural, political, and socio-economic boundaries, to be aware of one’s own cultural biases, and to be sensitive to different worldviews, is critical for our future."
Attend an Info Session on SENR Global Education Programs
Students interested in global education programs led by SENR can plan to attend an upcoming information session:
Australia: Human Impacts on the Natural Environment
9/25/24, 5:30PM-6:30PM, 245 Kottman Hall
10/24/24, 5:30 PM-6:30PM, 071 Hagerty Hall
11/13/24, 5:30 PM-6:30PM, online, (Zoom) https://go.osu.edu/australiainfosu25
New Zealand: Sustainable Tourism and Human Impacts on the Environment
10/1/24, 5:30PM-6:30PM, 071 Hagerty Hall
10/15/24, 5:30PM-6:30PM, 245 Kottman Hall
11/6/24, 5:30PM-6:30 PM, online, (Zoom) https://go.osu.edu/newzealandinfosu25
Iceland: Environment and Natural Resources
10/2/24, 5:30PM-6:30PM, 245 Kottman Hall
10/22/24, 5:30PM-6:30PM, 071 Hagerty Hall
11/14/24, 5:30PM-6:30PM, online, (Zoom) https://go.osu.edu/icelandinfosu25
*American Association of Colleges and Universities