Study abroad programs led by Trinity faculty will be increasing over time, according to Katsuo Nishikawa, associate professor of political science and director of the Center for International Citizenship. The decision to create more faculty-led international programs is connected to the university’s strategic plan in accordance with the goals of the Center for International Citizenship.

Gary Logan, vice president for finance and administration, explains that faculty-led programs will mean better quality study abroad programs for students.

“We’re trying to grow our faculty owned and faculty led programs. We think we can enhance quality by doing that. We believe in the quality of our own faculty and our own programs,” said Logan.

The Center for International Citizenship was created to provide students with a global experience both at Trinity and abroad.
“The Center for International Citizenship’s mandate is to prepare students for a globalized world,” said Nishikawa. “We satisfy that charge by doing two things: sending Trinity students abroad and bringing international students to Trinity.”

Pathways, the new curriculum for incoming students and current first years, will likely have more faculty-led programs that are built into the curriculum, according to Nishikawa.

“With Pathways, there will be classes that take the class takes you abroad. For example Rosa Aloisi’s class on the Hague, you have part of the semester here and then you also go abroad,” said Nishikawa. “It fulfills specific things from the curriculum.”
Nishikawa hopes to make faculty-led study abroad programs financially accessible to more students.

“One of the issues right now is that it’s a little expensive. One of my goals as director is to make faculty-led programs accessible to every student. Trinity students will pay their tuition to Trinity like they’re taking a normal semester,” said Nishikawa.

Nishikawa noted that the more faculty-led programs will be added in the future beginning with the programs that have the highest demand for students.

“On the works are a European””semester long program that may not be based in one country, but that travels, or a Japan semester long program. We’re gradually building as we see demand for them,” said Nishikawa.

The Center for International Citizenship will be expanding two faculty-led programs, Shanghai Summer Program in China and the Madrid Internship Program in Spain, to a full semester in 2016. A new faculty-led program called Sports in London, for sports management students will be available in the spring of 2016.

Nishikawa further explained that the Center for International Citizenship will be monitoring the faculty-led programs and will adjust accordingly if there are any negative effects.

“All of this is in beta mode. If we see that there are negative outcomes that we did not anticipate, we will adjust accordingly. Our goal is to get as many students abroad as possible. We don’t skimp on student’s education. We strongly believe in the power of the study abroad programs,” said Nishikawa.