Category Archives: News & Updates

Fall 2024 Message from the Director

All of us in Study Abroad & Away (SAA) hope the fall 2024 semester is off to a great start. The team of international educators continues to develop new programs and help students find the right study abroad and away program to further their intellectual and personal growth. We are thrilled to announce the launch of a domestic exchange program through the National Student Exchange (NSE), with more details below.

We encourage all of you, students, staff, and faculty, to attend our Study Abroad Fair on Tuesday, October 8th to learn about the many global and intercultural learning opportunities available to our SJSU students. You can see more information about this event below.

We are happy to report that in summer 2024, we successfully launched 9 faculty-led programs in which faculty took over 150 students to seven countries with faculty from three colleges. We would like to recognize the faculty champions who worked tirelessly to make these opportunities possible for our students: 

  • Elizabeth Carroll (Department of Art and Art History, College of Humanities and the Arts)
  • Seung Ho Chang (Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Sciences)
  • Greg Feist (Department of Psychology, College of Social Sciences)
  • Alison George (Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health and Human Sciences)
  • Tabitha Hart (Department Communication Studies, College of Social Sciences)
  • Sherri Harvey (Department of English, College of Humanities and the Arts)
  • Mary Juno (Department of Justice Studies, College of Social Sciences)
  • Marco Meniketti (Department of Anthropology, College of Social Sciences)
  • Gigi Smith (Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health and Human Sciences) 
  • Susan Trimingham (Department of Art and Art History, College of Humanities and the Arts)
  • Andrew Wood (Department Communication Studies, College of Social Sciences)

We also soft-launched our Summer School Abroad in summer 2024. This fall 2024, we will have 95 students abroad in 17 countries and are expected to have 101 students study abroad in spring 2025.

Our students continue to shine in many ways. Our Gilman scholarship recipients include: 

  • Alec Noland (Summer 2024, Scotland)
  • Kelly Ngo (Winter 2024, Thailand)
  • Sophia Garske (Fall 2023-Spring 2024, Spain)

Our Louie Barozzi scholarship recipient for 2024-25 is:

  • Henry Gibson (Fall 2024, Hong Kong)

Congratulations, we are so proud of you!

The SAA team continues to find innovative ways to promote global learning opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff successfully. To that end, we continue to grow our Global Ambassador Program. You can read more information about our amazing global ambassadors  in this blog post. We have also transitioned to  a new website for SAA. Check it out and provide us with any feedback.

We look forward to working with each and every one of you to find ways to broaden your global learning, teaching and service. Our commitment remains to promote a global ethos on campus and to move forward comprehensive internationalization as a priority for SJSU. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of the SAA team members with any questions or ideas by contacting them directly or by emailing spartansabroad@sjsu.edu.

As you navigate the opportunities and challenges this fall 2024 semester, we wish you continued success and the best of luck. We look forward to being part of your journey!

Study Abroad Resource Fair 2024

Study Abroad Resource Fair

Tuesday, October 8, 2024
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Student Union – Meeting Room 4

Come to the fair and learn about how you can study abroad or away! Join us to connect with study abroad advisors, program representatives, Global Ambassadors, and faculty leaders. See everyone who will be tabling below!

Faculty-Led Programs (General Questions)

  • 11:00AM -12:00PM
    • Courtney Anne Jackson (Study Abroad Program Specialist) and Erin Kelly-Weber (Senior Study Abroad Program Specialist)
  • 12:00PM – 1:00PM
    • Lisette Vazquez Perez (Global Ambassador – Comparative Forensic Science Faculty-Led Program in Scotland)

Summer 2025 Faculty-Led Programs

Come hear from faculty leaders and program representatives for the following programs that will be offered in Summer 2025:

CSU International Programs (CSU IP)

  • 11:00 AM – 1:00PM
    • Eddie Mejia (Study Abroad Advisor)

International Student Exchange (ISEP)

National Student Exchange (NSE)

  • 11:00AM – 1:00PM
    • Vid Raatior (Study Abroad and Away Coordinator, NSE Coordinator)

Summer School Abroad (SSA)

  • 11:50AM – 1:00PM
    • Courtney Anne Jackson (Study Abroad Program Specialist) and Erin Kelly-Weber (Senior Study Abroad Program Specialist)

Study Abroad and Away

  • 11:00AM – 1:00PM
    • Julie Lucas (Senior Study Abroad and Away Coordinator)

YMCA Camp Campbell

  • 11:00AM – 1:00PM
    • Katie O’Hara (Volunteer Manager)

SJSU Exchange – Asia and Oceania

SJSU Exchange – Europe

Financial Aid & Scholarship Office (FASO)

  • 11:00 AM – 1:00PM
    • Karima Karim (Special Programs Coordinator and Financial Aid Counselor)

JET Programme

  • 11:00 AM – 1:00PM

Spring 2025 & Calendar Year 2025- Deadlines Extended

You can still go, Spartans!

Interested in studying abroad this Spring 2025 semester or for the Spring 2025-Fall 2025 Calendar Year? You can still go! We have extended the application deadline to October 1 for the below SJSU Exchange & ISEP programs, October 15 for the below CSU IP and some ISEP Direct options.  Most of our domestic options through the National Student Exchange (NSE) for Spring 2025 are still accepting applications.

SJSU Exchange

Europe

Contact Julie Lucas (julie.lucas@sjsu.edu) or book an appointment here for these SJSU Exchange programs.

Asia / Oceania

Contact Vid Raatior (vid.raatior@sjsu.edu) or book an appointment for these SJSU Exchange options.

ISEP Programs

Many of the ISEP Direct programs are still accepting applications for Spring 2025 or Calendar Year 2025-2026. Check out the many options here and contact Vid Raatior (vid.raatior@sjsu.edu), the ISEP Coordinator at SJSU or better yet connect directly with the ISEP Team for any questions.

CSU IP

The below CSU IP program deadlines have been extended to October 15! Contact Julie Lucas (julie.lucas@sjsu.edu) or book an appointment here for these CSU IP programs.

Would you rather study away in the U.S?

Many of our 170 campuses in the National Student Exchange (NSE) in the continental United States, Hawaii, and the territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands are still accepting applications for Spring 2025. Contact Vid Raatior (vid.raatior@sjsu.edu) or book an appointment to discuss the NSE options.

Think Piece Thursdays – Rahel Adebabay

Rahel Adebabay | Spring 2023 | SJSU Exchange
University College Dublin, Ireland

From the beginning of my study abroad journey, my goal was clear: I wanted to expand my perspective and decenter from the American perspective in International Relations. Stepping into another country and experiencing a non-American curriculum was just the type of immersion I needed, especially in the early stages of my academic and professional journey. What I found unique and loved about studying at my host university, UCD, was its campus diversity – it essentially brought the world to me. About ⅓ of faculty are international academics and ¼ of the student body represented international students. Engaging with my peers and lecturers who had different perspectives made my academic journey fruitful and reflective. This experience underscored the importance of embracing multiple perspectives and ultimately made me more critical in my approach to global issues.

However, it was outside the classroom where the most profound impact of my study abroad experience occurred, through solo travel. Being fully immersed in various cultures allowed me to learn and grow in ways that I never thought possible. From trying new cuisines to navigating language barriers, each encounter became a lesson in compassion and self-sufficiency. Throughout my study abroad experience, I traveled to 7 other countries in the span of just 5 months. During my spontaneous and exciting journeys, I found myself confronting challenges head-on, strengthening my ability to adapt and thrive in unfamiliar environments.

 

Today, I attribute my substantial growth in confidence, cultural competency, and navigational skills to the transformative power of my international experience. My journey stands as a testament to the limitless opportunities afforded by international education and its profound capacity to drive positive transformations”

Study Abroad Fall 2024 & Year – Deadlines Extended

 

Interested in studying abroad this Fall 2024 semester or for the Fall 2024-Spring 2025 Academic Year? We have extended the application deadline to March 15 for the below programs. Apply today!

CSU IP

SJSU Exchange

Europe

Asia / Oceania

Director’s Message – Fall 2023

All us in Study Abroad & Away (SAA) hope that the start of the fall 2023 semester is off to a great start. The SAA team has been keeping busy over the summer and into the fall, developing new programs and helping students find the right study abroad program to further their intellectual and personal growth. We encourage all of you, students, staff, and faculty, to attend our Study Abroad Fair on Thursday, September 28th to learn about these many opportunities. You can see more information about this event here.

We are happy to report that in summer 2023, we successfully launched 17 faculty-led programs in which faculty took over 210 students to 13 countries with faculty from 3 colleges. We would like to recognize the faculty champions who worked tirelessly to make these opportunities possible for our students: 

  • Lynne Andonian (Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health and Human Sciences)
  • Dan Brook (Department of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, College of Social Sciences)
  • Elizabeth Carroll (Department of Art and Art History, College of Humanities and the Arts)
  • Irene Carvajal (Department of Art and Art History, College of Humanities and the Arts)
  • Megan Chang (Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health and Human Sciences)
  • Seung Ho Chang (Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Sciences)
  • Danijela Dudley (Department of Political Science, College of Social Sciences)
  • Alison George (Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health and Human Sciences)
  • Tabitha Hart (Department Communication Studies, College of Social Sciences)
  • Mary Juno (Department of Justice Studies, College of Social Sciences)
  • Kristine Kirkendall (Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Sciences)
  • Christine Ma-Kellams (Department of Psychology, College of Social Sciences)
  • Kasuen Mauldin (Department of Nutrition, Food Science & Packaging, College of Health and Human Sciences)
  • Sung Jay Ou (Department of Anthropology, Department of Environmental Studies, College of Social Sciences)
  • Giselle Pignotti (Department of Nutrition, Food Science & Packaging, College of Health and Human Sciences)
  • Deepa Singamsetti (Department of Nutrition, Food Science & Packaging, College of Health and Human Sciences)
  • Gigi Smith (Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health and Human Sciences) 
  • Susan Trimingham (Department of Art and Art History, College of Humanities and the Arts)
  • Andrew Wood (Department Communication Studies, College of Social Sciences)

This fall 2023, we will have 83 students abroad in 17 countries. We are already seeing an increase in the number of applications for exchange for spring 2024. In the past academic year, we have had a few Gilman scholarship recipients. They are: 

  • Rahel Adebabay (Global Studies, College of Social Sciences)
  • Peter Domingo (Art/Studio Practice, College of Humanities and the Arts)
  • Viridiana Galvez Garcia (Business Administration, College of Business)
  • Sophia Garske (Communication Studies, College of Social Sciences)
  • Amanda Harmon (Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering)
  • Lisette Vasquez Perez (Forensic Science, College of Social Sciences)

Congratulations, we are so proud of you!

The SAA team continues to find innovative ways to promote global learning opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff successfully. To that end, the team successfully launched the Global Ambassador Program in spring 2023. You can read more information and highlights below. The team also relaunched the in-person pre-departure orientation and developed a re-entry course for study abroad returnees, as we continue to find ways to promote the reflection that is critical to any global experience. In addition, we transitioned to  a new website platform for current students and partners.

We are eager to (continue to) work with each and every one of you to find ways to broaden your global learning, teaching and service. Our commitment remains to promote a global ethos on campus and to move forward comprehensive internationalization as a priority for SJSU. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of the SAA team members with any questions or ideas by contacting them directly or by emailing spartansabroad@sjsu.edu.

In the meantime, we wish you continued success and the best of luck as you navigate the opportunities this fall 2023 semester!

Summer 2024 Faculty-Led Programs (FLP)

Thinking about joining one of our summer Faculty-Led Programs? Now is the time to start planning. Applications are due January 31! Many programs are open to all majors and several fulfill graduation requirements (check the Academics tab of a program for details on the course, prerequisites and requirements it will fulfill).

Asia & Oceania

Americas

 

Europe

More Info:

Check out all summer 2024 faculty-led programs here.

Spring 2024 Deadlines Extended

We are extending the Spring 2024 & Calendar Year 2024-2025 study abroad application deadlines for the following SJSU Exchange, CSU IP, and ISEP opportunities in many parts of the world. Please click on the links below to review the program brochures and apply by the respective new deadlines.

SJSU Exchange

CSU IP

ISEP

International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) is still accepting applications until October 1st, 15th, and November 1st for many of their direct enrolled universities in Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Scotland, South Korea, U.A.E, and many more.

Need to talk?

Book an appointment with Julie Lucas or Vidalino Raatior to discuss your options.

Scholarship to Study in Florence, Italy

Study in Florence Scholarship

Study in Florence ScholarshipDid you know that the County of Santa Clara has a Sister County relationship with the Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy to promote “intercultural and educational exchange between these regions.”? And did you know that every year they offer scholarships to SJSU students who are applying to study abroad in Florence, Italy for a full year? Did you know that SJSU students can study abroad for a full year on the SJSU-approved CSUIP Florence Center in Italy? If you want more information about the Florence program, please book an appointment with Julie Lucas (julie.lucas@sjsu.edu) at the SJSU Study Abroad & Away office.

For more information and application on the  scholarship, please visit the Santa Clara County website here.

Gilman Award: Rahel Adebabay

Rahel Adebabay

Congratulations to Rahel Adebabay, a Junior majoring in Global Studies and minoring in African American Studies, Legal Studies, and Philosophy who was one of two SJSU recipients of the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship to study abroad in the spring 2023 semester. Rahel will be studying at University College Dublin in the spring. Rahel is a Peer Mentor at Peer Connections and a Research Assistant at the African American Studies department. In her personal statement (see below), Rahel, who is proudly of Ethiopian heritage, wrote that she is “eager to embark on a new academic journey and determined to excel while utilizing my leadership abilities to contribute to the campus culture.”

Rahel’s Statement of Purpose

Participating in a study abroad program would profoundly benefit my experience as a Global Studies major. My interest in foreign relations stems from the desire to serve underrepresented groups, travel, and engage with different cultures. I want to utilize my degree to work towards my vision of building a prosperous, united Africa with access to basic needs, economic sustainability, and solid educational infrastructure. As I pursue such domains, the University College Dublin would be the perfect environment to develop the skills necessary to thrive in International Affairs. Not only will I engage in a curriculum directly related to my field, but like-minded individuals will also surround me. San Jose State University is traditionally a STEM-based school, and the student population majoring in International Affairs is slim. Seeing as though the University College Dublin is highly selective and recognized for its programs, I expect my experience to challenge me, academically and personally, as I know this will ultimately make me a well-rounded student and person. Through this program, I hope to gain a new perspective in which to view the world.

Although I consider myself open-minded, I believe traveling to Dublin, Ireland, and experiencing a non-American curriculum will allow me to decenter from an American political perspective. This is especially important as a scholar in the field of International relations because this will challenge my political beliefs, worldviews, and personal values. International Affairs cannot be seen from only one perspective, and acquiring added perspective will make me more analytical and critical in nature. Such attributes will make me an attractive candidate for my future educational pursuits and professional life. Through this experience, I desire to garner skills to become an effective communicator as I am cognizant of the number of people I will meet from various backgrounds with possible language and cultural barriers. Through this experience, I want to learn how to navigate those barriers in communication. This is especially important to me as I hope to work in the peace and war conflict sector, and through this experience, I can drastically improve my communication abilities.

 I believe studying abroad is more than just about academics. It includes studying rich cultures and engaging in diverse communities. I plan to use this cultural understanding to best inform me beyond this academic semester and my day-to-day life. I believe that I am a creative, open-minded student with excellent collaboration skills and a deep-rooted commitment to improving my community. At the University College Dublin, I am eager to embark on a new academic journey and determined to excel while utilizing my leadership abilities to contribute to the campus culture. These qualities prove I would be a great candidate for the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship program.

Apply For the Gilman Scholarship Now