In the fall of 2012, Ashland University implemented
a new section of their core requirements, The Global Passport Strategies. This
was done to encourage students to become more globally competent so that they
would be prepared for their futures. There are three tracks that students can
choose from, each offering different opportunities.
This past semester September Long, a junior, became
the first student to complete her GPS requirement through the Study Abroad Track.
She has been studying in Prague, Czech Republic at Anglo-American University
since late August and has been expanding her knowledge of different cultures.
“Since being abroad, I have really come to
appreciate different cultures but also to look at the world from a different
perspective and that has been truly enlightening,” said September.
She
chose this track because she felt it was a good opportunity to study in a place which held her
interest while fulfilling her core requirements.
At the University, she is enrolled
in four classes; political science classes and one art class: Global Security,
Multiculturalism in Europe, EU Integration and Prague Art & Architecture.
“I chose to take these classes
because they give me an opportunity to learn about the history of the Czech
Republic, from the founding of Prague Castle to the fall of communism,” she
said.
All of these courses transfer back
to AU as either core credit or credit for her major.
But for September, the information
she has gained from her classes has only scraped the surface of the knowledge
she has gained. Some of the most valuable time she has spent has been outside
of the classroom.
“I have been traveling as much as I
can to other countries in the European Union, and I personally would equate
these experiences to what is learned in the classroom here,” she explains. “Traveling
has really taught me to be flexible and open-minded. When I travel, I am able
to meet new people and hear things from their perspectives and that is not
something I get in the classroom.”
Overall, September’s time spent
abroad has been exceptionally valuable and she would recommend this option to
anyone.
She claims, “This has been such a valuable experience and I
will never forget it. It has really been awesome.”
For more information, visit www.ashland.abroadoffice.net
or email global@ashland.edu
