Global Engagement Summer

» General Information

Location:

New location TBA

Description:

The Global Engagement Summer Institute (GESI) is a two-course summer study abroad program focused on community development in a global context. Students from around the country learn about international development, global engagement practices, project management, leadership, and the realities of contemporary Argentinean, Indian, or Ugandan life by connecting them with community based organizations to co-design and collaboratively implement a small-scale community development project. GESI starts with a 7-10 day training institute at Northwestern University in which students prepare for their project-based immersion by taking two courses—Intro to International Community Development and Theory and Practice of Community Consulting—as well as learning from guest speakers about the cultural, historical, political, and economic background of their country. Students then spend 7 weeks in either Argentina, India, or Uganda living in home stays, working with a local non profit in a team of five, and participating in guest lectures and discussion with local experts and a Northwestern TA. GESI concludes with a 2-3 day comparative final summit in Chicago.

Terms:

Summer (mid-June to mid-August)

Sponsor:

Northwestern University Center for Global Engagement (CGE) at the Buffett Center for International and Comparative Study (BCICS)

Website:

Global Engagement Summer Institute

Program Contact:

Ryan Pederson, Campus Director, Center for Global Engagement 620 Library Place Phone: 262-853-6414

» Apply Now

Summer Application

» Related Links

Language Requirements

Students must have the equivalent of two years of college-level Spanish.

Northwestern Requirements

All applicants should have approximately a 3.0 GPA.

Academic Specialties

Community engagement, non-profit organization, cross-cultural collaboration, and Latin American studies.

Course Type

  • SESP (# TBD): Introduction to International Community Development
  • Communications Studies 395: Topics in Communications—Theory and Practice of Community Consulting

Additional Information

Policies:
  • Read about the refund, cancellation and withdrawal policies for Northwestern's summer study abroad programs.
  • Read the student agreement and code of conduct; summer study abroad students must agree to the terms therein.
  • All students who participate in Northwestern Study Abroad programs are required to purchase HTH health insurance. Read about HTH costs and enrollment.

Housing

Home stays

Program Costs

$7,400

  • This includes tuition (2 courses), accommodation, some meals, and a midterm retreat. Students must also pay for their group flights, which will be arranged by the Center for Global Engagement.

Approximate Program Size

20 students

Application Requirements

Students applying to the Global Engagement Summer Institute summer program DO NOT need to take the 101 session on Blackboard, as is required of other study abroad students.

Students applying to the Global Engagement Summer Institute must:

  1. Complete the Northwestern Summer Study Abroad Application and submit it along with the required non-refundable deposit of $1000 by January 15, 2009 to 620 Library Place.
  2. Interview with Ryan Pederson, CGE Campus Director, prior to the application deadline.
  3. Additional CGE application form. Please contact Ryan Pederson for more information.

Note:

  • Make sure you passport is valid through February of 2010. If you are planning to apply to this program and you do not yet have a passport (or need to renew your current passport), you should begin this process as soon as possible so that it is completed by the time of application in early March.  The processing time for a passport application is approximately 6-8 weeks. For more information on how to apply for or renew a passport, please visit the State Department's passport web site.
  • Accepted students must purchase the required HTH health insurance and must submit a photocopy of the HTH receipt showing proof of insurance to the Center for Global Engagement by date TBA.

Contact Returnees

Northwestern students may enter this section of the site for a list of students who participated in this program.