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UAPB’s diverse education abroad programs have resulted from collaborations and/or financial support from diverse organizations to ensure affordability and quality programming. Examples of organizations with whom OIPS has worked during the past and present include the: 1890 Center of Excellence for International Engagement and Development (CEIED), 1890 Center for Global Food Security and Defense (CEGFSD), 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund, American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), IIE/Generation Study Abroad, HBCU-China Network, and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Programs listed in this section are generally implemented during the late spring and/or summer months with limited exceptions. These programs are generally open to all UAPB students; however, grant-related scholarship assistance is based on student eligibility. This listing is not meant to be exhaustive, as new programs may emerge in addition to the program descriptions presented. 

China (Asia)

Through the HBCU-China Network, UAPB students are participating in virtual Chinese language courses taught by a professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University in China. This program commenced during the spring 2021 semester. Applications are due at the beginning of a new semester. View more information on this program.

Colombia (South America)

Through grants provided by the 1890 Center of Excellence in Global Food Security and Defense, students enrolled in degree programs within the School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences (SAFHS), are eligible for scholarships to participate in experiential learning programs in Colombia. View more information on the Experiential Learning in Aquaponics Program.

For information on an opportunity for experiential learning in cowpea production, contact Dr. Pamela D. Moore.

Costa Rica (Central America)

The Environment & Culture in Costa Rica program will provide an in-depth awareness of Costa Rica's diverse microclimates—from rainforests to cloud forests, beaches to volcanoes—as well as the incredible biodiversity of flora and fauna that call them home. Discover how thousands of endangered species are being protected through model conservation and sustainable ecotourism projects. Connect with local villages along the way, immerse yourself in "Tico" culture, and sample local cuisine. View more information on the Costa Rica program and watch the informational video. For additional information, contact Ms. Annette Fields at fieldsa@uapb.edu or (870) 575-8775.

Ghana (West Africa)

Since 2016, UAPB has worked with Valley View University, a small, private university outside of Accra, the capital city of Ghana, to implement programs which emphasize cultural and experiential learning, featuring internships, service learning or student-initiated projects. Highlights of the cultural program include the Ashanti Region to the north-east of Kumasi, the cultural heartbeat of Ghana, and the slave castles along the Cape Coast. View more information on this program (Building a Cultural Bridge by Promoting Aquaculture and Experiential Learning in Ghana).

Another program is being developed in collaboration with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, a public university based in Kumasi, a city located in the heart of Ashanti culture in Ghana. This program will also feature a visit to slave castles along the Cape Coast. View more information on this program.

Guatemala (Central America)

OIPS implemented a pilot education abroad program in Antigua, Guatemala during the summer of 2019. The program is currently being expanded for increased student participation. It will also become part of a new minor degree program at the university. This makes it easier for students to improve their Spanish language skills and also strengthen their academic and career credentials. For example, students with solid Spanish-speaking skills will be able to pursue careers with the U.S. Peace Corps, corporations with global offices in Spanish-speaking countries, the Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service or businesses that specialize in international trade. The UAPB program in Guatemala also develops the soft skills needed to work effectively in global career tracks across multiple disciplines. View more information on the summer Guatemala program.

Kenya (East Africa)

Beginning in 2022, OIPS will inaugurate education abroad programming in East Africa. The Department of Human Sciences plans to conduct a 12-day program entitled Service Learning Abroad – Kenya. Participants will also be exposed to merchandising, textiles and design trends and practices, traditional cuisine and food habits, human development issues, hospitality and tourism. Service learning projects will be conducted in the Kazuri and Kibera communities, and a program at Kenyatta University will include lectures on fashion design, branding and marketing by Kenya’s international fashion entrepreneurs. This visit will also facilitate exploration of a formal linkage relationship with UAPB. Cultural learning will encompass a visit to the Bomas of Kenya, a multicultural center showcasing the diverse culture of Kenya’s people. View more information on this program.

Through the 1890 Center of Excellence in Global Food Security, new opportunities are being developed for student experiential learning and research in agriculture, global climate change and global food value chains. For additional information, contact Pamela D. Moore.

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Students interested in an education abroad opportunity at UAPB are required to commit to attending a one-hour weekly advisement session during the spring semester. Participation in an education abroad experience is not the same as visiting a country as a tourist! An education abroad experience demands far more of a student in learning how to navigate life in a foreign country. The necessary preparation for this experience occurs during the weekly advisement process. Attendance at these sessions is mandatory for a student to gain UAPB’s sponsorship of travel abroad and the assistance of OIPS staff in resource mobilization efforts.

Students who are interested in attending a program in a non-English speaking country, e.g., France, China or Mexico, may also be required to enroll in a spring semester course or show evidence of previous enrollment in a foreign language course or, alternatively, basic familiarity with the language of the host country.

Where to Go for Information and Assistance 

For information regarding education abroad programs at UAPB, please visit the Office of International Programs and Studies, Holiday Hall, first floor lobby, on the UAPB campus. Specific questions may be directed to Dr. Pamela D. Moore, Associate Dean for Global Engagement, at moorep@uapb.edu or (870) 575-8545 or Ms. Ta’Yanna Dandridge, Sr. Research/Program Assistant, at dandridget@uapb.edu or (870) 575-8180.

A Shout Out to UAPB Faculty and Staff!

OIPS is committed to engaging UAPB faculty and staff in global program initiatives. Faculty and staff who are interested in organizing an education abroad program are encouraged to contact our office at the earliest possible convenience.

Hey, what about Costs?

OIPS works diligently to ensure that education abroad costs are affordable. This includes active Grantsmanship to cover or substantially defray the costs of participation. OIPS staff also assist students in identifying and submitting applications that will lower overall costs. In addition, negotiations are conducted with program providers in an on-going and dynamic manner to ensure quality programming at affordable costs.

Costs are not always included in program announcements because the amount of the fee may depend on the number of participants in a program. If the target number is not reached, costs will invariably increase. Finally, not all programs include airfare which may have to be calculated separately and all students must factor in the costs for passport and/or visa application fees, medical vaccinations and insurance. All of this can seem overwhelming to students or program participants at first glance! That said, OIPS has been generally successful in helping students to meet their financial goals by working with them to mobilize financial and other resources as necessary.

Useful Forms

OIPS Pre-Advisement Form
This form is required and should be submitted no later than December 15th of the fall academic semester either in hard copy or electronically. Information from this document is used to provide interested students with periodic news and announcements on upcoming programs.

U.S. Passport Application
The form that you may need to apply for a U.S. passport will differ based on a number of factors.

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Here are a number of useful resources for students who desire to travel abroad:

U.S. Government

U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs Homepage
Travel Advisories
COVID-19 Travel Guidance for U.S. Citizens
COVID-19 Country-Specific Information
U.S. Passport Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC Homepage
Travelers' Health

Scholarships

Fund for Education Abroad
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
Office of International Programs and Studies
OIPS manages a small fund which provides limited scholarship assistance to students traveling abroad. Contact Pamela D. Moore for additional details.

Other Resources

Generation Study Abroad
Capacity Building Program for Study Abroad

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Pamela D. Moore, JD, MPP, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Global Engagement Program Coordinator Office phone: (870) 575-8545 moorep@uapb.edu Office of International Programs and Studies

Ta’Yanna Dandridge Senior Research/Program Assistant Office phone: (870) 575-8180 dandridget@uapb.edu Office of International Programs and Studies

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Any student who desires a successful career will have to anticipate and prepare for the full range of dynamics that will continue to impact the U.S. and our world. Students who seek careers in government or politics will confront an increasingly multicultural and potentially divisive electorate. A local worker in a manufacturing plant will have to consider how his or her job may be displaced by a new plant in another country. Even school teachers will have to grapple with the challenges of teaching students who come from diverse backgrounds, nationalities and ethnic groups. Anyone who thinks that they can avoid dealing with globalization is like the proverbial ostrich with his head stuck in the ground!



In summary, a well-planned educational opportunity abroad is nothing short of transformative! According to Generation Study Abroad, pursuing educational opportunities abroad is one of the best ways students can acquire global skills, as well as personal and professional opportunities. Studying abroad is a life-changing experience for many students that can open their eyes to different ways of life and promote understanding and tolerance. Research continues to demonstrate that students who participate in education abroad programs achieve higher retention and graduation rates than those who do not. This important outcome of education abroad programming enables OIPS to complement and reinforce ongoing retention activities within SAFHS and the university at large.