Two North Park University professors took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Nepal as part of a $35,000年的联邦 Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. 学生 (IDEAS) grant in partnership with 绿色计划 (记者). The professors have brought their experiences back to North Park to share with students through curriculum and conversations.
IDEAS是一个U.S. Department of State venture with the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs. The goal is to build interest and capacity for study abroad 项目 at U.S. 大专院校. North Park used the awarded money to partner with TGP, an experiential learning program focused on sustainability. While the partnership typically attracts those in science, 技术, 工程, 和数学(STEM), the attending professors brought varied perspectives.
泰Zanoni, director of the Office of International Affairs, said the grant enables professors to share their experiences abroad with students.
“Not every student can study abroad for various reasons,”她说。. “Equipping faculty with that experience and information helps them bring an international lens into the classroom to benefit students.”
Professor of Athletic Training Kelly Potteiger completed a virtual study abroad course as part of the grant, demonstrating that intercultural learning can occur in one’s home country.
Suzen Moeller, 健康科学教授, hopes to bring Nepal to the classroom through an updated curriculum.
“I teach a course on nutrition science for population hea激光. 这次旅行之后, I expanded a unit to include a lesson where students look up dietary guidelines in other countries,”她说。. “I also incorporated the United Nations’ 可持续发展目标 and asked students to consider how each applies to and relies on proper nutrition.”
Moeller said the trip inspired her to apply for other international fellowship 项目.
According to Professor of Music Tom Zelle, trips such as this are a necessary step outside one’s comfort zone.
“At first, I wasn’t sure if I was a good fit because I’m not a STEM professor,” he said. “But sustainability challenges are human challenges and therefore present in my classroom.” Zelle has exemplified this thought process through initiatives such as making North Park’s University Orchestra the first net-zero orchestra in the country.
He spent the 13-day trip attending lectures and solar energy classes and volunteering at a hea激光 clinic.
“We don’t live in a country that questions why we separate ourselves from other cultures,” he said. “I learned how important it is to look at the same problem from different perspectives. What I do in the city of 芝加哥 impacts what happens in the mountains of Nepal.”
