Exciting opportunities brought to you by Study Abroad and Student Exchange Programs

Written by Adriana Flores Solis

CLASS offers study abroad and student exchange program opportunities for students who want to immerse themselves in a new culture and put their learning capabilities to the test. Three departments have upcoming trips in the next year. The Department of Economics will be visiting Germany in Summer 2025, the Department of English and Modern Languages is exploring Thailand in Summer 2025, and the Department of Political Science will be going to Singapore in Spring 2025. Destination highlights, past trips, and upcoming programs can be found on the Faculty-Led Programs website.

The Department of Economics

Economics Professor Dr. Carsten Lange has participated in a student exchange program himself. He attended a six-week exchange program in Baylor University in Texas while he was an undergraduate student living in Germany. Dr. Lange served as a professor in Leibniz University of Hannover (LUH) in Germany. He then transferred over to teaching at Cal Poly Pomona. He said, “I gained a lot from the experience and made a commitment to myself to organize a similar exchange if I ever had the chance. At the time, I thought this day would likely never come. Years later, when I transitioned from the Leibniz University of Hannover (LUH) to Cal Poly Pomona as a professor, I remembered my commitment. Together with my colleague at LUH, Dieter Berkholz, we began organizing the exchange program between Cal Poly Pomona and University of Hannover.” Students who are majoring in Business or Economics are recommended to apply in early January to get on the interest list. To prepare for the trip, students attend information sessions that are hosted alongside the International Center on campus. Participating students also get to meet with the German exchange students who come to Cal Poly Pomona. Past students from Germany and CPP have built strong relationships from the overall program experience. The Germany exchange program is six weeks, and all classes are taught in English. Students also have the option to extend their trip for personal travel after the program has ended. In the past, CPP students have visited Amsterdam, Paris, France, and London after the program concluded. More information about Hannover University and program details can be found on the Study Abroad website.

The Department of English & Modern Languages

Professor of Linguistics and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Dr. Olga Griswold has assisted with one destination so far, the Thailand Summer 2024 trip. Dr. Griswold and Spanish Professor and EML Department Chair Dr. Kent Dickson were invited to meet with faculty at Rajamangala University of Technology, Thanyaburi. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss students visiting Thailand over the summer and developing skills in teaching English, with the guidance of local professors. Dr. Griswold said, “The arrangement is mutually beneficial because our students learn to teach and gain cross-cultural experience while Thai students get exposure to and instruction from native English speakers with some training in second language pedagogy and also gain cross-cultural experience.” Visiting Thailand gave students the opportunity to apply what they learned in the classroom. Students also gained exposure to Thai customs, history, and cultural facts. Spaces will be limited, so priority will be given to students who have declared a professional interest in being second language teachers. Dr. Griswold recommends that any interested students take ENG 4230: Teaching English Abroad next Spring. A second requirement before going abroad is attending a week-long training session. Instructors discuss cultural expectations, pedagogical basics, and students are given a list of recommended items to bring along with them. General information about study abroad in Thailand with the English & Modern Languages department can be found on the department website.

The Department of Political Science

Political Science professor Dr. Renford Reese serves as the study abroad/study away program advisor. Dr. Reese has coordinated 18 study abroad programs on campus, to 12 different countries since 2007. The programs offered by the department are open to all majors. Over the past five years, Political Science alumnus Sean Yu has given the department $1 million dollars. This allows all participating students to receive a $500 scholarship. In 2022, the department received a $74,000 gift from the Ashborn Institute to support master’s in public administration (MPA) students who were a part of study abroad programs. MPA students received $1,000 scholarships. That same year, Dr. Reese donated $100,000 to study abroad programs in the department. The many generous donations that have been given to support students has made the Political Science department the primary department for study abroad opportunities at Cal Poly Pomona. The most memorable trip Dr. Reese has taken was a 2022 Paris and Geneva trip with 42 students. He said, “The trip that I am most looking forward to is our upcoming 2025 Winter Intersession trip to Singapore where our students will be volunteering for the Willing Hearts Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity Singapore.” Dr. Reese believes that participating in study abroad is a great way for students to stand out and be competitive candidates for future opportunities. Whether it is employment or graduate school applications, study abroad is a great topic to discuss in an interview. The benefits of study abroad go beyond the professional opportunities, it makes students become more confident and global-minded. It inspires students to become a better version of themselves and be more involved when they return home from the trip. Before departing, students are given assignments leading up to the trip. These examine the history, culture, and daily life of the trip location. If English is not a primary language in the designated country, students learn basic terms. A pre-departure meeting is also held to cover the logistics of the trip. Learn more about the study abroad programs offered by the Political Science department on their website.