Study Abroad Options Available for Bumpers College Students

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The office of international programs in the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas has several opportunities available for students interested in gaining overseas career and academic experiences prior to graduation.

Study abroad opportunities are designed to give students enhanced learning experiences and skills employers look for during job interviews. Overseas experiences include formal coursework at universities, courses normally taken at the U of A available in a different country, internships with international companies, mini-courses offered over two or three weeks, guided study tours and focused supervised tours related to specific majors.

Opportunities for 2014 include positions in China (for the School of Human Environmental Sciences only), Brazil, Scotland, Mozambique, Belgium and Rwanda.

The deadlines for applying are approaching. Information on each is below.

China (School of Human Environmental Sciences)

Program: Students work with experts and faculty to educate students on Chinese hotel and tourism management, and culture and cuisine. Apparel students work with the faculty at the Institute of Textiles & Clothing at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to develop projects that will expose them to Chinese culture and fashion.

• Lead faculty: Kelly Way (kway@uark.edu) and Kathy Smith (sasmith@uark.edu)
• Dates: May 17-30
• Number of students: 20
• Skills/major: hospitality/apparel studies
• Minimum GPA: 2.6 or higher
• Cost range: approximately $7,000
• Deadline for application: Jan. 15

Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Program: The goal of the U of A Brazil International Research Experience Program is to provide excellent well-rounded academic, research, cultural and social learning opportunities for students in international settings. Students participate in research activities of the faculty mentor, focusing on the area(s) of most relevance to the degree program or future career plans. Students also have the opportunity to conduct their own experiment. Research areas include environmental, soil and weed science; plant genomics; plant breeding and genetics; science and technology of fruits and vegetables; and insect ecology.

• Lead faculty: Esten Mason (esten@uark.edu) and Nilda Burgos (nburgos@uark.edu)
• Dates: May 21-July 31
• Number of students: 2
• Skills/major: open to undergraduates and graduates
• Minimum GPA: 3.0
• Cost range: approximately $2,300
• Deadline for application: Jan. 15

Scotland

Program: This is an international internship exchange with Scotland's Rural College (SRUC).

• Lead faculty: Jeff Miller (jdmiller@uark.edu)
• Dates: May 24-Aug. 1
• Number of students: 2 to 5
• Skills/major: open to all Bumpers majors (undergraduates and graduate) with an emphasis on agricultural communications, animal science, environmental and water science, soil science and horticulture
• Minimum GPA: 3.0
• Cost range: approximately $3,500
• Deadline for application: Dec. 10

Novos Horizontes, Mozambique

Program: This program is an international service learning project, for six credit hours, during Summer Session I. The U of A faculty leads students in an academic service project. A poultry operation was started with the goal of becoming a model for sustainable economic business development to replicate in various locations throughout Africa. Students learn first-hand the challenges in creating sustainable business in an inhospitable environment as well as how to apply skills creatively to improve the business. The cultural experience is tremendous as students work side-by-side with local community members. The expectations on students are high and the work is difficult, but for uniquely dedicated students, this is a life-changing experience.

• Lead faculty: Lanier Nalley (llnalley@uark.edu) and Keith Bramwell (Bramwell@uark.edu)
• Dates: May 14-June 9
• Number of students: 10 to 15
• Skills/major: open to all Bumpers majors and minors with an emphasis on poultry science and agricultural business
• Minimum GPA: 3.0
• Cost range: approximately $3,200 plus U of A tuition and airfare
• Deadline for application: Jan. 15

Belgium

Program: Two students are selected for internship positions at Ghent University and work in a laboratory on biomass deconstruction enzyme interaction relationships. One additional student also works at Ghent University, contingent on additional funding (a funding request to the National Science Foundation is pending). Students complete a 12-week internship and are enrolled at the U of A and Ghent University. Two students work at BioBase Europe developing biobased processes. Students complete a 12-week internship and are enrolled at the University of Arkansas.

• Lead faculty: Julie Carrier (carrier@uark.edu)
• Dates: May 15-Aug. 15
• Number of students: 4 to 5
• Skills/major: biological and agricultural engineering undergraduates
• Minimum GPA: 3.0
• Cost range: Approximately $3,250 plus U of A tuition
• Deadline for application: Jan. 15

Muzanze, Rwanda

Program: A paid two-summer commitment (summer 2014 and summer 2015) for one to six credits earned per summer.

• Lead faculty: Jeff Miller (jdmiller@uark.edu)
• Dates: May 30-Aug. 1
• Number of students: 1
• Skills/major: Open to all Bumpers majors with an emphasis on agricultural education, poultry science, agricultural business, and biological and agricultural engineering
• Minimum GPA: 3.0
• Cost range: $2,000 per summer
• Deadline for application: Jan. 15

There are also potential departmental opportunities in agricultural economics and agribusiness; agricultural education, communications and technology; animal science; biological and agricultural engineering; crop, soil and environmental sciences; food science; apparel studies; food, human nutrition and hospitality; and poultry science.

For more information, contact the lead faculty members listed above or Leslie Edgar, director of international programs, at ledgar@uark.edu or 479-575-6770.