Study abroad programme fuels US students’ global curiosity

The programme, which focuses on developing students’ global curiosity and ambition, is unique in the world. Participating students spend their first ever semester of university overseas, as part of a cohort at a partner university, then another semester abroad later in their degree. World Scholars are encouraged to pursue global internships and placements throughout their programme, truly embedding global experiences into their study.

The University of Auckland is excited to be part of this unique programme. Our visiting World Scholar students, who can choose to complete their first college semester in Auckland, Madrid, or Rome, take Global Politics as a core course and other optional papers across the Faculties of Arts, Science, and the Business School. The programme includes a buddy component, pairing visiting students with first-year Global Studies students, and includes events and excursions so students can become fully immersed in Kiwi culture.

Kristen Reece, who is 18 and hails from Pennsylvania, is majoring in International Relations. “I would love to work in the foreign service or for governmental intelligence organisations, where exposure to different cultures, ways of life and people is highly encouraged,” she says.

For 18-year-old Anna Schumeyer, from Delaware, it’s a time for personal growth and critical problem solving. She admits it is “very daunting not only to be starting college, but to be starting in a foreign country” but feels “very blessed to be here”. Anna is aiming to complete a Linguistics major and is taking the opportunity to study a Korean language paper which is not on offer at home.

Ainslie Moore, Deputy Director of International Operations at the University of Auckland, says “I expect visiting World Scholar numbers to increase to around 40 students each year as the Delaware programme gains momentum, and I hope the buddy element will inspire Global Studies students from Auckland to pursue similar overseas study experiences.”