Augsburg University's Center for Global Education and Experience Reviews

My experience abroad was genuinely so thought provoking, adventurous, and exciting! Not only did I gain more knowledge on the impact and legacies of apartheid, genocide, and colonization, but I got to learn from on the ground activists, leaders, community members, locals, politicians, and so much more. The experiential aspect added a new dimension to my learning that I never got the opportunity to experience before. I was able to go on field trips that aided in my learning goals and related to the course while also being super engaging and fun! Having the chance to talk to locals, students, Yango drivers, shop owners, and so much more gave me a more well-rounded experience of Namibia and South Africa which I wouldn't have been able to have through a textbook or a lecture.

My time in Northern Ireland was an absolutely life changing experience. It is not your typical study abroad experience, it is pretty structured but it's that way for a reason. I got to speak to people on both sides of the conflict in Northern Ireland as well as learn in depth about what peace building really looks like in a modern society. I also got opportunity to intern at a community development organization where I met so many incredible people with amazing stories. Northern Ireland is also an extremely beautiful place that I got to explore a lot of. The north coast is one of the most breath taking places I've ever been to. Northern Ireland is a unique place that changed my life and this program is a huge part of that. I would do my study abroad 100 times over if I could.

I am so grateful that I found this program. My semester abroad in Guatemala and Costa Rica with CGEE was everything I hoped it would be and more. When considering what I wanted my semester abroad to look like, I knew I didn't want something basic. I wanted to go on an adventure and to expose myself to a greater world. One of the major reasons I chose this program, other than doing something awesome, was to learn Spanish. Having studied French in high school, I had no background in Spanish and wanted to develop that skillset from the ground up. Thankfully, that's exactly what happened. My Spanish went from ground zero to basic conversation skills. Highlights of my time in Guate and Costa Rica include participating in a Mayan ceremony on Lake Atitlán in Guatemala, visiting a national park on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, exploring the cafes of Quetzaltenango with friends that I plan to hold close for life, and learning from many incredibly impactful organizations and individuals. My time in Guatemala forever changed me and I sincerely hope to return in the future. My experience was the perfect mix of academically engaging and personally fulfilling. I seriously cannot recommend this program enough.

I went to Mexico to improve my Spanish skills and gain confidence moving and interacting in unfamiliar settings and situations. This program allowed me to greatly improve my Spanish - the month-long urban homestay was super helpful for that - and expand my skillset and knowledge of what I can do. In the course of this program I also complete a social work practicum at a local elder care home, and that allowed me to apply and further develop social work skills of empathy and communication, as well as to more completely immerse myself in the local community.

Studying abroad through Augsburg in South Africa and Namibia was an incredibly unique and impactful experience. Unlike more "traditional" abroad programs, the objective is to learn hidden histories, uncover truths about larger global issues, and change perspectives on how to navigate an ever-changing world. Additionally, this program highlights ways to make conscious decisions regarding environmental and racial issues that permeate today's social culture through conversations with real inhabitants.

My four months based in Derry/Londonderry were spent attending long but fascinating lectures about Northern Irish history and The Troubles, an internship at the Bloody Sunday Trust (the organization that runs the Museum of Free Derry), visiting towns and organizations historically significant to the conflict, and listening to stories shared very willingly by survivors of the violence that gripped the region not too long ago.

This program provided an immersion within conflict studies that profoundly changed my view of the world, altered the focus of my studies and my post-college trajectory. I was one of six midwestern liberal arts students in the cohort, and we lived together in a Bogside flat. The combination of a focused and relatively rigorous classroom experience with day-to-day encounters of a "post-conflict" society provided the exact level of engagement and experiential understanding I was looking for.

After the program ended, I went back to school to continue my Political Science degree, and then returned to Northern Ireland for a year as a volunteer at Corrymeela, a peace and reconciliation center for the region. My time with the CGEE program in Derry ultimately realized three outcomes: a fascinating and immersive academic experience, a want for much, much more, and the connections and context to make 'much more' happen. I would highly recommend this program for those who want to seriously engage with significant topics in the realms of history and political science.

My experience on the program was life changing, heart widening, and eye opening. I loved learning about how different communities have created long lasting change for social justice and better collective futures. This program challenged what I thought I was possible in terms of life path and ways activism manifests. My experience on this program will stay with me and I wish to be able to relive the experiences I had. The Indigenous teachings, stories, and lessons softened me and has shaped my new wide worldview.

Currently I now live in Norway and am pursuing my Masters in Computer Science. During my exchange semester, I met so many people and the classes I took really inspired me. Genuinely, I think the experience was somewhat live changing. The professors I met were also incredible. Even though I am a computer science major, I feel this experience would be good for any major. The classes were quite thought provoking. Learning about social systems and the welfare state was honestly the defining factors of my education and experience there.

I did the "Liberal Arts, Migration, & Social Change" track of Augsburg's CGEE program, and it was amazing. It doesn't require you speak to Spanish, but it has a robust Spanish-intensive with different levels so it's accessible regardless of fluency.

It's also a great networking opportunity. You'll see a lot of guest lecturers from all kinds of careers (professors, journalists, philosophers, interpreters, community organizers, agricultural/environmental experts, etc.), and you'll get chances to interact with them and sometimes exchange contact info after their visits. For example, I want a career in writing, and I traded contacts with a journalist who spoke to us! The program also offers a few short, free volunteering opportunities that you can add to your resume (I did this and it helped me land my first internship as an ESL teacher's aide). Finally, the regular professors in the program are always willing/prepared to write letters of recommendation: One of whom is helping me publish my first academic paper that I did in her class.

Finally, it was an amazing social experience. There's a ton of bars/clubs, museums, gardens/farms, and a nearby waterpark :D. Some of the stuff we did while I was there included kayaking, arts and crafts, gardening, hiking, museum tours, movie excursions, bowling, ice skating, karaoke, concerts, and bar/club crawls!

I think you'd have a blast if you're interested in any of the following: Latin American studies, Community Organizing, Multi-media Art, Art History, Geopolitics, Anthropology, Spirituality/Religion, Biology/Ecology, Agriculture, Literature, Philosophy, Writing/Journalism, Social Work, & Dance. (take the optional dance class if you can!)

I was a little hesitant to study abroad because I had never done anything like this before. I am so glad that I did. From the professors including Bettine, Bengt Morten, and Harald. They really made the program and kept all of us engaged. I am so glad that we had our program leader, Bettine, with us. She truly made all of us feel at home. I really like my living situation, having my own room and bathroom was a wonderful experience because you spend most of your time with so many people that it’s nice to have your own space. Living in the collective was a lot of fun as well because I became really immersed in the Norwegian culture and got to spend time with other students. The weekends were well spent because more often than not there were parties in the collectives, which was a great place to meet people! Norway is a beautiful country and I highly recommend getting out there and exploring all of the natural elements that you can! Explore the fjords, mountains, and the ocean as much as possible. Say yes to every new opportunity you are given!