The Scholar Ship  

The Scholar Ship is a new and unique global academic exchange program for university students and young professionals. The program has been designed by international education professionals with long term experience in academic exchange and study abroad to respond to the challenges and opportunities of a new and ever more interconnected global world. 

An academic consortium of six leading universities from around the world has developed The Scholar Ship curriculum with a multicultural perspective.  This framework will allow participants to understand and analyze global issues through a multicultural dialogue thus enhancing their academic knowledge, intercultural leadership skills and professional potential.

Each semester 600 students will participate in onboard coursework and discussions, choosing an academic area, or ¨learning circle¨. Undergraduate concentrations include international business and communication, sustainable development, global cultures and social change, conflict studies, and worlds of art and culture.  The postgraduate program is focused on three areas: international business, international communication and international relations. 

Each semester The Scholar Ship will make seven-day visits to ports of call in eight countries where integrated experiential learning opportunities will complement the coursework onboard.  These field programs are designed and led by The Scholar Ship’s multicultural academic faculty in conjunction with local organizations, academics and professionals, enabling participants to examine social, political, environmental and business issues inherent in a range of cultures and countries.  Activities for undergraduates may include visits to government offices, local businesses, NGOs, universities, museums and participation in service or research projects or opportunities for individual travel.  After each port visit participants will discuss, analyze and interpret their experiences within their learning circle groups. Participants in the postgraduate program can be linked to organizations relevant to their areas of future professional employment and develop international contacts for future networking.

The need to develop young leaders with intercultural experience and the ability to work and communicate in intercultural settings and negotiations is of increasing importance and relevance to all sectors of society and perhaps most especially to the private sector.  Traditional study abroad experiences are designed to offer participants the opportunity to perfect their foreign language skills and to experience life in another cultural and linguistic setting.  The Scholar Ship initiative is designed to offer participants an immersion in a multicultural environment, with English as the common language.  The experience is designed to assist the participants in developing an appreciation for and awareness of intercultural difference and  to hone the multicultural communication skills necessary to be effective professionals whose knowledge and experience will benefit their institutions and societies.

For additional information, visit www.TheScholarShip.com  or 
Contact:Fay Henderson de Diaz  
Latin America and the Caribbean
FHenderson@TheScholarShip.com