The Education Abroad Office is again giving faculty and staff members the opportunity to spend spring break like students by studying abroad in Costa Rica through the International Perspectives in Higher Education program.

Study Abroad Exchange Coordinator Maura Smith, and Research Associate Professor of Geography and Director for the Center for Excellence for Geographic Research Jerry Mitchell are leading the 13 participants on visits to academic and service-learning sites available for study to USC students. The group will visit three different higher education institutions, meet with the director of the national accrediation system, and visit host family accommodations, in addition to other cultural activities. Through observations, meetings with local university staff, guest lectures and group discussions, participants will explore the theoretical differences between higher education systems in the United States and in Latin America and gain an understanding of the inner workings of education abroad programs.

 This year's group consists of representatives from the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Education, the College of Social Work, Global Carolina, the McKissick Museum, the School of Public Health and USC Lancaster. While in Costa Rica, they will be contributing to a group blog to showcase their experiences. Upon returning to USC, participants will complete follow-on projects to encourage education abroad at USC.

This is the fourth year of the award-winning IPHE program provided by the Education Abroad Office. Visit International Perspectives on Higher Education for more information about this program and Opportunities for USC Faculty and Staff for all of our other faculty and staff programming.