UWRF plans study abroad opportunities

UW-River Falls’ upcoming study abroad and student exchange programs were on display on Sept. 22 at the Study Abroad Fair in the University Center. Nineteen programs were showcased in total, the closest of which are scheduled for spring break 2022.  

This will mark the first time the programs have been held since March of 2020, when the COVID-19 outbreak put them on hold. 

Megan Langie, Program Manager for the Office of International Education, said that with coronavirus still a concern, the programs are subject to be rescheduled or canceled should the pandemic worsen, and their dates are tentative.  

Langie said UWRF is committed to the safety of its study abroad programs and is assessing their viability based on the latest information, which she said is constantly changing. Decisions about delays or cancelations will be made on a program-to-program level. 

Four trips are scheduled for spring break 2022. These are the Ghana Agriculture and Agribusiness Tour, the Belize Study Adventure, Natural Health & Resilience Planning in the Netherlands, and the Germany: Culture, History, and Politics trip. The Germany trip will also be held later in May. 

The Experience Scotland program is scheduled for spring and fall 2022. It will be held at a new location, Newbattle Abbey in Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland, rather than Dalkeith Palace, where it was held in previous years.

The Semester Abroad: Europe program will begin in spring 2023 and involves independent internships and research projects across Europe. In past years, students have studied dolphin monitoring, the evolution of jazz, and many other subjects.  

The International Traveling Classroom, which is scheduled for fall 2022, also offers the opportunity to explore Europe.  

Several other programs are planned for J-Term 2023, which are Spanish 302 in Ecuador, Explore Italy, Explore India, and Costa Rica Sustainability. In May 2023, Discover the Netherlands: Water, Wheels and Windmills, is scheduled to occur, as well as Iceland & Norway: Unique Agricultural Practices, Environments, and Cultures. 

Summer 2023 is planned for Bahamas: Tropical Restoration, as well as other programs, such as the Experience China trip, which were not being showcased at the Study Abroad Fair. 

Many student exchange programs were also showcased. These include the Dongguk University Exchange in South Korea, the Shih Hsin University Exchange in Taiwan, the UPAEP Exchange in Mexico, the AERES Exchange in the Netherlands, the Hessen Exchange in Germany, and the RheinMain Exchange in Germany. 

Langie stated that UWRF “is not mandating the COVID vaccine” or any other requirements for study abroad. Many of the countries being visited have prerequisites for entry, however. As of October, many European countries are requiring travelers to be fully vaccinated, though requirements largely depend on the country in question.

Langie also said that students who want to study abroad should get a passport “ASAP,” as the pandemic has stretched the process to as long as four months. Students who are interested in any of the programs are encouraged to visit studyabroad.uwrf.edu for more information.