This week, 11 German students and their team leader were welcomed to campus by FSU students participating in the Beyond Borders program. This unique exchange program offers an alternative to traditional academic study abroad programs and provides students with short-term, cultural learning experiences through immersion.

Small groups of 10-12 FSU students spend three weeks in early May in Dresden, Germany at the Technical University – Dresden or one week at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica during FSU Spring Break. First, CGE hosts 12 students from the University of West Indies in Jamaica for one week in October and 11 students from the Technical University of Dresden, Germany for three weeks in March. FSU students selected for each program aid their respective group on excursions, events, and discussions as the guest students learn about both the academic and local culture in the U.S.

FSU students then travel to their host country institution to reunite with their international friends and experience their way of living through travel, relationship building, and academic enrichment. The Beyond Borders Germany group will travel to Dresden in May 2017 and the Beyond Borders Jamaica group will travel to Kingston during Spring Break.

Beyond Borders helps students develop cultural competencies needed to make a difference in today’s global society. Participation in the program fulfills the international requirement for the Global Citizenship Certificate and Garnet and Gold Scholar Society.

The deadline to participate in Beyond Borders Jamaica is mid-September and BB Germany is mid-October. If you are interested in the program visit our website, or if you have any questions, please contact Laura Dean at lmdean@fsu.edu.