Deepen your understanding of emergent transdisciplinary issues related to global health, environmental humanities and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals by examining contemporary challenges arising from global environmental change, and completing a 3-week field experience focused on climate change, biodiversity, conservation, WASH and community health in The Gambia, West Africa.
The summer 2024 Education for Sustainable Development program of the Global Columbia Collaboratory offers the opportunity to engage, virtually and in-person, with a small group of Columbia University students, as well as faculty, researchers and community organizations in The Gambia over the course of 15 weeks this summer.
Overview
Through global seminars, small group meetings, and working on a collaborative project for the Gunjur Conservationists and Ecotourism Association (CETAG) and The Gunjur Project Association you’ll learn about environmental and global health realities in The Gambia; the important role the humanities, arts, and social sciences can play not just in producing solutions to environmental problems but in understanding how those problems emerged; how NGOs, government agencies, and communities are working collaboratively to address sustainable development challenges to achieve the SDGs in The Gambia; and you will gain hands-on experience through a 3 week in-country field experience in The Gambia.
The Collaboratory is a not-for-credit program offered by the Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement in partnership with The Gunjur Project Association and CETAG. Students may consider using their participation in the program for elective academic credit, and/or internship, capstone, practicum, or research requirements.
If you have any questions, write to globalcollab@columbia.edu or watch a recording of one of the INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kXX2xrMv1k
Eligibility and Application
At the point of application and throughout the Global Columbia Collaboratory experience, you must be:
Currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student
In good disciplinary standing.
Students must be able to fully participate in all activities and meetings throughout the 15 week program.
Non-Columbia students are eligible to participate.
The Collaboratory is conducted in English.
APPLICATION DEADINE:
Applications are currently open until April 26
Financial Considerations
The virtual portion of the Collaboratory program is free to participants but there is a program fee for the in-country field experience.
Student fee: $2,800
Included in the student fee:
a $500 non-refundable deposit
lodging
in-country transportation
all meals
in-country excursions
Gold Standard-certified carbon credit for flights to/from NYC
Excluded costs:
student transportation to/from The Gambia
costs associated with securing a valid passport and visa (if applicable)
vaccines for travel to The Gambia
personal spending money
Tentative Timeline and Expectations
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Monday, April 26, 2024
February 19: Applications open
April 26: Applications due
On an on-going basis: Applicants will be asked to sign up for a brief interview with the program organizers
April 30: Finalists will be notified
May 5: Confirmation of Participation forms and $500 deposit due
May 15: Final payment of student fee ($2,300) due
Virtual and In-person Programming
Programming for the Collaboratory will take place over 15 weeks (May - August*) and students should expect to spend 5 - 6 hours a week engaged with Collaboratory content, seminars and activities. Additionally, students must be able to travel to the on-sight program.
Weeks 1 - 11: virtual programming/synchronous meetings
Weeks 12 - 14: in-country field study/The Gambia
Week 15: virtual programming/synchronous meetings & Project Showcase
*Finalized Schedule, including the duration of the in-country field study in The Gambia, will be provided in April 2024. Contact globalcollab@columbia.edu for more information.
Students must be able to participate in all meetings and activities as part of joining the Summer 2024 Collaboratory.
Components
GLOBAL SEMINARS
Global seminars are led by faculty, practitioners, and researchers on education for sustainable development and environmental humanities, and are drawn from the extensive networks of Columbia University.
TOOLBOX SESSIONS
These are skills-based workshops to support students’ global learning, intercultural communication, and successful completion of a project in collaboration with The Gunjur Project Association or Gunjur Conservationists and Ecotourism Association (CETAG).
SMALL GROUP MEETINGS - “PODs”
Collab PODs are facilitated small group sessions that meet on a weekly basis to provide students with specific content related to The Gambia and to foster students’ connection and reflection as they process and build on their learning.
PROJECT WORK SESSIONS
Student collaborators meet to work on their project for CETAG.
ON-SITE FIELD EXPERIENCE
Students will spend time in The Gambia visiting sites of global health, environmental and cultural significance, working on their NGO/partner project, learning from observation, and engaging in field study.