Study Abroad in Australia With New Service Learning Course

Kathi Jogan

Students on Magnetic Island, West Point, Australia.

Students who participate in the newest course to earn the service-learning designation will travel from Arkansas to Australia to take Trekking Australia: Animals, Aboriginal Culture, Rainforests and Reefs. Led by faculty members Kathi Jogan and Lisa Wood, the intersession course plans to run from Aug. 5-16, 2024.

Trekking Australia: Animals, Aboriginal Culture, Rainforests and Reefs will provide students the opportunity to not only immerse themselves with the flora and fauna of Australia, but to submerse themselves by snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef. 

"Students will participate in two service-learning projects during our visit to the Great Barrier Reef," Jogan explained. "They will collect data about micro-plastics on a beach to be entered into the Australian Marine Debris database. They will also learn how to perform a complete reef health assessment, which they will do while they snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef. Information gathered will be entered into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority database." 

The remarkable work of reef preservation will be one of several stops on the map for students. "Another service-learning project in which students will participate is at Billabong Sanctuary," Jogan said. "Billabong is a leader in conservation and known for its dedication to animal welfare. After learning about native species, students will identify and build enrichment items for various animals, including dingoes, wombats and crocodiles!  Students will then be able to watch the animals interact with the enrichment items that they create."  

Trekking Australia: Animals, Aboriginal Culture, Rainforests and Reefs is the first Australian study abroad course to become designated by the Service Learning Initiative.

"We are thrilled to continue to increase the Service Learning opportunities offered in partnership with Study Abroad," stated Lisa Bowers, director of the Service Learning Initiative. "Coordinating a global learning experience with community partners is a powerful combination of two High-Impact Practices, which are known to facilitate positive academic outcomes. We could not be more excited to offer this new course with a Service Learning designation to students this coming August." 

The application deadline for this course is Feb. 1, 2024, and early application is strongly advised. Check out the Hogs Abroad Portal to find out more information on this course. Visit the Service Learning Initiative website to view a list of all courses that have been designated and learn what requirements must be met for a course to become designated as service learning.