Virtual Study Abroad with EdOdyssey: A Cultural Adventure Both In and Out of Classes
Studying abroad is something that thousands of students consider doing in college. Learning new things from a different country provides you with new knowledge and perspectives that you might not find in the United States.
Studying abroad is something that thousands of students consider doing in college. Learning new things from a different country provides you with new knowledge and perspectives that you might not find in the United States.
It’s no wonder that so many students choose to spend at least one semester of their college career in a different country!
As you look ahead to the rest of your college career, and beyond, these following questions will be important:
What kinds of new experiences do you want to have, and what kinds of new skills do you want to gain before you graduate?
Millions of students graduate from school every year - how will you stand out from everyone else?
You have an opportunity to taste the immersion of study abroad without leaving your home country. Dive into global learning and develop a deeper understanding of the diversity of the world through EdOdyssey’s virtual study abroad program!
Explore the ins and outs of another country through our cultural modules and online courses taught by our expert partners at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), a top institution in Peru!
WEEKLY CULTURAL MODULES
Anyone who has gone abroad can tell you that adventure waits at every corner. Every day brings something new to explore. As travelers ourselves, we can say that this is the most exciting part of any global experience!
Outside of class, you can continue to learn about Peru and the Peruvian experience through our weekly modules! Join your classmates for a new discussion and cultural activity session. These two hour sessions occur twice a week and build sociocultural context to complement your course!
Explore Peruvian culture through movies, sports, and cooking! Our Peruvian-led sessions will bring an authentic Peruvian experience to you!
PERUVIAN HISTORY AND CULTURE COURSE
When you hear the word “Peru,” what do you imagine? A lot of people picture Machu Picchu high up in the mountains. However, Peru is not just the Andes, the Incas, and Machu Picchu. Peru was the center of South American civilization for millennia, and its long history is rich with political, social, and cultural shifts.
You can still see remnants of Peru’s ancient past today, and just as history impacts the present, what you learn about the country in the present will be the good predictors of what might happen in the future. Through Peruvian History and Culture, you can learn about what has happened in the past and how it affects the present.
Most importantly, you will also examine how factors such as societal conflict and personal identity can affect Peruvians for generations ahead!
You can dive deeper into Peru’s history and culture through our weekly modules. Learn more about the intersections of the past and present and explore how the topics you learn in class play a role in the country’s current issues. Our colleagues in Peru, who live and breathe the Peruvian experience, will bring learning to life next semester!
INDIGENOUS RIGHTS & LEGAL PLURALISM COURSE
Peru is one of the most diverse countries in the world. A vast majority of Peruvians are either mixed-race or descendants of the ancient indigenous peoples in the area. With over 50 ethnic groups and centuries of cultural shifts and tensions, Peru is the perfect case study if you’re interested in anthropology, race relations, global human rights, or anything relating to the state of the world!
You won’t be taught by any college professor: you’ll learn directly from a Peruvian lawyer who specializes in defending indigenous rights and working with indigenous peoples firsthand! With pressing topics such as land distribution, environmental conservation, and equal access affecting millions of Peruvians, now is the time to learn about the legal histories and policies affecting people in another part of the world!
PANDEMICS, GLOBAL HISTORY, AND PERUVIAN SOCIETY COURSE
As the world becomes more globalized, it will push people and cultures to interact with and understand each other as an important part of our future. Knowledge of the past vitally shapes how we address global issues in the present.
This course focuses on how Peru has handled worldwide pandemics in the past and challenges students to think about the implications that the country’s history has on people today. Your professors at PUCP won’t just give lectures on history; they will also walk with you through complex social implications of a widespread pandemic and help you navigate the shifting relationships between science and politics in Peruvian society.
You can further investigate the effect of these factors through one of our weekly modules about Peru in 2020 - we will be discussing how Peru has handled the COVID-19 pandemic, so don’t let this chance to learn something this relevant pass you by!
YOUR PERUVIAN EXPERIENCE
A virtual course “abroad” will show your curiosity for world affairs, and it’ll teach you lessons beyond the classroom. EdOdyssey’s virtual study abroad program opens a virtual door for you to immerse yourself in the Peruvian experience by learning directly from Peruvian experts and EdOdyssey’s Peruvian team members.
EdOdyssey’s cultural modules take the lessons from Peru’s culture history, indigenous rights and global pandemics to make them come alive and build on the a strong academic foundation from your classes. You’ll walk away with global competencies that colleges admit from prospective undergrad and grad students. Beyond your degree, you’ll find that employers seek professionals that embrace diversity and new experiences so don’t miss out!
Want to learn about virtual study abroad?
Pandemics: Gain Cultural Competencies, Global Perspective on Peruvian Society With EdOdyssey
Pandemics cause widespread grief and destruction of human life. In addition to COVID-19, various forms of disease and their consequences in health persist in societies around the world and continue to affect large, often particularly vulnerable, populations.
Pandemics cause widespread grief and destruction of human life. In addition to COVID-19, various forms of disease and their consequences in health persist in societies around the world and continue to affect large, often particularly vulnerable, populations.
Through the virtual study abroad experience, students will have the opportunity to supplement learning from experienced professors at the top university in Peru with conversations with the EdOdyssey team surrounding various Peruvian cultural topics. Students will be enrolled in a virtual two-credit course at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, a prestigious university in Lima.
This unique course offering, Pandemics, Global History & Peruvian Society, forms a part of Virtual Study Abroad and engages students in a range of conversations relevant to global public health. Students interested in health topics, international studies, or learning more about different cultures will gain knowledge surrounding the causes, responses, and results of pandemics throughout modern history.
To contextualize the knowledge learned during the course, students will engage in a weekly cultural module with the EdOdyssey team in Peru. Learn more about the course and how you’ll also have an opportunity to extend your knowledge beyond the virtual classroom!
A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE ON PANDEMICS IN PERU
A particularly unique aspect of this virtual study abroad experience is the support which students will receive from the EdOdyssey team in Lima, Peru. One of our team members, Luis Garcia, graduated from PUCP and continues to live in Lima. As EdOdyssey’s Cultural Advisor for EdOdyssey’s Study Abroad program, he shares some remarks on why he is excited for this course:
“This course ties current events with historical records, how countries and governments have reacted to pandemic situations in the past, and what consequences those decisions had in their societies. Outbreaks like the Spanish flu resulted in tremendous loss of lives and there is much to be learned about how we can take on those subjects at a multidisciplinary level.
Fast forward to now, Peruvian policy and decisions on how to confront the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in negative consequences for the economy. I’m excited about this course because it opens discussions about how developing countries face different challenges when shelter in place is recommended, as their economy relies heavily on day to day activities.
Much has been said also about how societies comply with health-related recommendations such as mask wearing. In Peruvian culture, why do most Peruvians still go outside despite the virus? Some say they need to do so in order to survive economically. These needs need to be taken into account when shelter in place is recommended. Without considering the peoples’ needs, the Peruvian economy may be irreconcilably damaged.”
RELEVANCE TO GLOBAL CURRENT EVENTS
Incorporating the cultural module alongside the course offered at PUCP will provide students with an opportunity to use the knowledge learned in class and to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic and other pandemics have affected both Peruvian society and U.S. society. Moreover, students will discuss how different governments responded to the current pandemic, thinking about ways in which responses could have been improved to best protect the community.
Discussions about different pandemics throughout history will highlight how different cultures, socioeconomic realities, and geographical regions are disproportionately vulnerable to pandemics and other major health crises. Learning about global inequalities positions students to go forth in the future and combat injustices and find solutions to such inequalities.
COMBINING (VIRTUAL) CLASSROOM AND CULTURE
During this program, students will learn about Peruvian culture with the EdOdyssey team in order to best put new knowledge from their PUCP course into context. Various presenters and presentations will cover different themes related to Peruvian society, culture, and life, helping students to best understand the course material.
Additionally, there will be numerous opportunities to ask questions to and hear from people with different perspectives. Professors, study abroad alumni, EdOdyssey founder, team members from Peru, staff, and interns will all be sharing their experiences, insights and knowledge with students, and more than willing to answer questions!
WHO IS THE IDEAL STUDENT FOR THIS COURSE?
Students who have a curiosity and passion for expanding their global knowledge surrounding public health, policy, and history, will thrive in this engaging educational opportunity.
Health topics, such as pandemics, affect all societies and responses require teamwork amongst numerous participants and organizations. Whether you are thinking about or pursuing a career in government, health professions, social services, or international studies, this course will touch on relevant ideas and important topics that you may find important as you navigate your professional career.
The course will also be instructed in English, providing access to those who are interested in the relevant themes and have English as their dominant language. The course is Peru-centric and taught by Peruvian professors, but NO prior Spanish knowledge is required!
MAKE THE MOST OF OUR GLOBALIZED WORLD
Education during this Fall semester and headed into 2021 is going to look different than what most of us are used to. New technologies are being integrated into classrooms and virtual teaching in order to progress student learning and ensure safety for all as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
EdOdyssey’s new Virtual Study Abroad program, that integrates PUCP courses with a cultural module, is a great way to jump on the bandwagon of new educational experiences and take advantage of the ability to engage with and learn from people on another continent. There is always something new to learn from those who have different life experiences and expertise!