GU-GLOCAL-sponsored short-term study abroad programs with our overseas partner institutions which normally takes place during the summer vacation months (August-September) was disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic as students were not able to travel abroad. The good news was our partner institutions in Australia (Griffith University) and Canada (University of Alberta) responded quickly by offering their regular in-person short-term study abroad programs online. A rough survey conducted in the first semester among undergraduate students at GU indicated that despite the unexpected disruption and travel constraints, some students have not given up their study-abroad plans. These students may be planning to study in the future when they believe the crisis will have subsided. In response, GU-GLOCAL made the decision to offer the “Spring Online Study-Abroad AY 2020”.

Nine students joined Griffith University’s “Direct Entry Program Online (DEPO)” for three weeks from February 22^nd, and five students signed up for University of Alberta’s “Communication Skills for Global Citizenship Online (CSGCO)” two-week program from March 1^st. GU students were assigned to English classes appropriate to their language levels with participants from other institutions. Post-course evaluations among our participants revealed a highly favorable feedback (83%) indicating that they were glad they participated and that it was a good experience. Interestingly, the same survey also revealed that 67% of the respondents would like to take a regular class in a classroom setting at an overseas partner institution in the future.

Although these times are challenging for many students and university staff all over the world, dreams of studying abroad have not diminished. In the midst of many uncertainties, we all try to find ways to cope and overcome different challenges.

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  Online Study at Griffith University

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  Online Study at University of Alberta

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