The Global Experience

Understanding the Global Experience

To become a Global Scholar, you will need to identify and complete a “global experience.” A global experience is a learning experience outside of your normal course work in which you engage deeply with a topic and/or real world challenges, problems and perspectives. Global experiences are transformative learning opportunities such as study abroad, Model UN, an international clinical experience, or a globally-related research project – these experiences may or may not be paired with course content and no credits need to be associated with the experience.

Here are just some suggestions for different kinds of impactful global learning experiences at UW Oshkosh that you may want to explore; you can also create your own in consultation with your advisor.

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• Globally focused study abroad/away/exchange
• Globally focused service learning activities
• Globally focused Faculty – Student collaborative research
• Globally focused independent student research
• Globally focused field work, pre-professional internship, or pre-professional clinical
• Participation on the Model United Nations Team
• or other experiences you might devise with support from an advisor
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In a short video, Jenna Graf from The Office of International Education discusses the benefits (and myths!) of Study Abroad.

Examples:

• The College of Nursing offers study abroad experiences that provide nursing students with clinical experiences in Ireland, India, Peru, and Nicaragua.
• Students from across campus participate every year in UW Oshkosh’s award winning Model United Nations program representing developing countries from around the world.
• Students in Geology engage in oceanography field work in the Florida Keys and Bermuda to understand the impact of global climate change on coral reefs.
• Faculty members from a variety of majors and programs engage with students in faculty collaborative research, closely supervise internships, and support independent student research with a comparative or global focus.

Documenting your Global Experience

Completing the “global experience” piece of the global scholar option is not about credits; it’s about your growth and development as a global scholar. In addition to actually having the experience, you will need to demonstrate your completion of the experience and reflect on the impact of that experience on your learning and personal development as a Global Scholar in an ePresentation (a shareable electronic format).

Know Before You Go!

Take the time to explore the different kinds of global experience opportunities at UWO. Set up an appointment with the Office of International Education to talk about options for study abroad or study away with a global focus. Talk to your advisor about major or program specific opportunities such as global research or global field work. Do some background research on global service learning opportunities, internships, etc. that are related to your field or your interests. In short, seek out some help and advice and make sure you have a plan in place that will work for you! Before you head off to have a global experience of a lifetime, be sure you have identified a faculty or staff member who has agreed to supervise your ePresentation and work with you, and complete a “pre-check” form. Also be sure you to think ahead about how you want to document your experience – here are a few easy things to do to properly document and preserve important details, memories, and experiences so that your global experience, whether or not it involves travel, can stay with you long afterwards