Press

Students at the Colegio Custodio García Rovira high school in Malaga Santander, Colombia. Through a UB Experiential Learning Network project, UB students are providing English tutoring to the students via remote learning.

UB students teach lessons through the non-profit Inkululeko, which focuses on improving education in South Africa.

UB students teach lessons through the non-profit Inkululeko, which focuses on improving education in South Africa.

Dr. Mara Huber, associate dean of undergraduate research and experiential learning at UB, takes students on an annual two-week summer trip to Tanzania to learn about its history, culture and politics. However, due to COVID-19, Huber decided to make that summer trip a virtual abroad experience for the fall semester.

The UB Experiential Learning Network (ELN) supports academic and professional preparation through its Soft Skills Studio and other co-curricular projects. Read more on page 14.

Schools are rethinking the immediate future of travel programs slated for the summer and fall, with virtual study abroad programs being designed in a hurry.

With the move to online instruction and disruption to travel-based courses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, students are turning to technology-supported global experiences. At the same time, NGOs around the world are struggling to support our most vulnerable populations, seeking new partnerships and growth possibilities. Through the University at Buffalo Experiential Learning Network (ELN), we are connecting these two areas of opportunity—global experiences and NGO partnerships, through mentored virtual projects. Students engage in our Project Portal at their own pace at no additional cost, eliminating traditional barriers to access and encouraging students from all areas of study and background to participate in high-impact projects.

ELN Director and Associate Dean Mara Huber presents her perspectives on ethical leadership through a case study examining a global education model that connects college students with nongovernmental organizations to empower communities in Tanzania.

[Presentation begins at minute 44 of Session 4 recording.] As student expectations for high-impact global experiences continue to grow, colleges and universities struggle to offer opportunities at scale, especially within the context of the continuing pandemic. At the University at Buffalo Experiential Learning Network (ELN), we have designed an alternative to traditional models, using co-curricular digital badge to incentivize, facilitate and assess engagement.