Lead a Program
Leading a Learning Abroad program is a unique opportunity to bring your course to life by teaching it in an international context. Faculty-led programs are developed in collaboration with faculty, academic departments, and Learning Abroad staff, and are tied to a department curriculum to correlate with a student's major, minor, or area of interest. The program provides students with enriching academic experiences related to your academic discipline.
As a faculty leader, you’ll be responsible for planning and organizing your program’s itinerary, budget, and recruitment before departure. While abroad, you’ll oversee course delivery, student support, and risk management, ensuring a successful experience for all participants.
This role requires flexibility, leadership, and cultural sensitivity, allowing you to make a lasting impact on students' global understanding while also enhancing your own teaching portfolio.
Designing a Program
The sky's the limit when it comes to designing a Learning Abroad experience! Think about ways you can get creative to offer something truly unique:
- Consider experiential opportunities such as research or internships
- Incorporate site visits that tie directly into your course material—whether it’s historical landmarks, local companies, or community-based projects.
- Develop interactive assignments that encourage students to engage with the culture, such as group projects with local universities.
- Collaborate with local experts to give students a deeper insight into the subject matter.
Develop a Program Proposal
We encourage faculty to sign up for our Faculty Fellows program, which is the best way to be guided step-by-step through the proposal process. You will participate in a series of workshops that cover the following:
- Learning Abroad Overview & Benefits
- Academics
- Budgets & Program Finances
- Health, Safety, & Risk
- Marketing, Outreach & Recruitment
- Contracts
- Program Proposal Steps
We also provide an incentive to all faculty, who complete the Faculty Fellows program receive a grant that can be used toward program development, scholarships, and program discounts in the first year.
We recommend faculty plan 12-18 months in advance to successfully deliver their program. Sustainable, high-impact programs require strong departmental support and coordination, so we encourage you to work with your department and Learning Abroad early.
Learning Abroad will accept all proposals between February 15 and June 1 for programs that launch in the subsequent calendar year (ex. Application submitted by June 1, 2025 for all programs that begin in 2026).
Our goal is to ensure you're well-supported and prepared to create a transformative experience for your students. Contact Eric Boscan to learn more about the Faculty Fellows program and submitting a proposal.
Testimonals
Timothy “Tim” P. Cannon, MA
Program Director, Intensive Spanish Language in Oviedo, Spain
Leading a program fosters rewarding, real-world impact
The most rewarding experience is seeing students use and apply what they are learning in the classroom in real-world settings while learning abroad. It’s one thing to discuss concepts, theories, history, and culture in a classroom, but it’s another to watch students immerse themselves in those very things in real time. I’ve seen how the experience abroad has influenced not only their academic paths but also their professional careers. It’s always gratifying to hear from former students years later, reflecting on how their time abroad shaped and guided their life choices.
Jennifer Coombs, PA-C, PhD
Associate Professor, Guatemala International Elective: Health Sciences
Leading a program adds rigor to research and scholarships
For faculty, these programs provide rich opportunities for research and innovation. My work in Guatemala has led to research on sustainable models for volunteer medical care, the impact of health interventions on maternal and child health, and long-term outcomes for chronic disease management in rural communities. The integration of technology, public health frameworks, and clinical best practices makes this an ideal setting for faculty research and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Richard Ingebretsen, PhD, MD
Program Director, Wilderness Medicine in the Alps
Leading a program expands your classroom
Unlike a tour guide or third-party program director, faculty members can connect classroom theories with real-world applications, helping students critically analyze their surroundings. For example, a political science professor leading a program to South Africa can provide in-depth discussions on apartheid, democracy, and economic development, encouraging students to engage in meaningful discussions rather than simply visiting landmarks. This ability to bridge academic concepts with cultural immersion makes faculty leadership invaluable.