The document outlines the experiential learning opportunities offered by the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University, focusing on student engagement in service-learning abroad, particularly in India. It highlights the benefits of international service learning, including cultural exposure, leadership development, and community impact, while also addressing challenges such as time management and finding academic alignment. Future goals include strengthening partnerships, improving collaboration between education abroad and service learning, and sustaining connections for students.

1. EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ABROAD:
THE JOURNEY
College of St. Benedict | St. John’s University

2. Introductions
 CSB | SJU
 Education Abroad
 Service-Learning

3. The Intended Experience
 The Search
 Building
partnerships
 Intensive Planning
 Launch

4. Finally, we launch!
I don’t think that we are in Minnesota any longer!

5. The Lived Experience
 CSB/SJU Visits India
 Students serve at various NGOs throughout Kolkata
 Association for Social and Environmental Development
 Biodiversity
and
Environmental Issues
 Solar Lamp Project

6. Prayasam
 to give a child everything that is her/his
right by acting as a catalyst between
society and the children. Its vision of
organising children of West Bengal into
acting as agents of positive change is
based on a unique model, propelled by its
mission of "education for all through the
process of each one teach one".

7. Water for People
 Water in 8 of 19 districts within West Bengal are
arsenic-ridden, making it unsafe for more than 5 million
people, who often turn to nearby ponds shared with
livestock. As a result, West Bengal has one of the
world’s highest levels of water-related illness.

8. Loreto Day Sealdah
 OUR DOORS ARE ALWAYS OPEN
PBS: Undertold Stories

9. Benefits of ISL
 CPs comment on enthusiasm, passion, helpfulness. “(students are) adaptable, highly
motivated, and eager..comfortable with ambiguity…”
 Because of this, I plan to go to graduate school. “(students) often make career choices on
the basis of IPSL experience.”
 Students feel a different exposure to Indian culture, “more radical educational
experience than conventional study abroad”
 Students interact in a professional way – different than school, family or peer interactions.
 Students make a lasting impact in the community, mutually beneficial relationship
 Students develop “significant qualities of leadership including adaptability and
resourcefulness”
 Students gain confidence with new language skills used during the ISL experience.
Bringle, R., Hatcher, J. & Jones, S. (2011). International service learning: Conceptual frameworks and research. Sterling, VA: Stylus.

10. Challenges
 Time, time, time
 Alignment with major
 Struggle to find academic connection, intersection between theory and
praxis
 Creating sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships
 Students struggle to just be and not do
 “…because of their level of engagement, found reentry to American society
especially difficult.”
Bringle, R., Hatcher, J. & Jones, S. (2011). International service learning: Conceptual frameworks and research. Sterling, VA: Stylus.

11. Binding books…
Did I come all the way to India to do this??!!

12. Tips for Success
 Preparation
 Students’ attitudes
 Come with an open mind, no hidden agenda
 Ability to deal with ambiguity
 Intentional Reflection
 Clear learning goals and planned reflection
 Assessment
 360 degree evaluation process
 Re Entry
 Providing local opportunities for students to stay connected

13. Where are we going?
 Continue to strengthen the relationships with our on-site
partners and resources.
 Develop efficiencies and economies of scale through:
 continued cross-departmental partnerships,
 resource sharing,
 feedback via assessment
cycle,
 and sustainable global
relationships.

14. Discussion
 What relationship do you currently have between
Education Abroad and Service Learning?
 How can you make this stronger?
 Why would you bother to work together
(strengths/benefits)? What are the challenges to
collaboration?
 What are some successful practices of domestic
service-learning which could be applied to
international work? Are there lessons from abroad
which could be transferred back to on-campus and
local community work?

15. Conclusion
Riding your camel off into the sunset….

16. Thank you!
Marah Jacobson-Schulte, M.S. Peggy Retka, M.S.
Service-Learning Coordinator Director, Education Abroad
CSB/SJU CSB/SJU
http://csbsju.edu/Service-Learning.htm http://csbsju.edu/OEA.htm
mjacobsonsc@csbsju.edu pretka@csbsju.edu
320.363.5117 320.363.5962
Joy Ruis, M.A. Jennifer Stevenson
Education Abroad Advisor Social Science with Secondary Education
CSB
CSB/SJU jastevenson@csbsju.edu
http://csbsju.edu/OEA.htm
joyruis@csbsju.edu
320.363.5990