Lipscomb in Britain latest global learning offering, will launch this fall
Kim Chaudoin |
Lipscomb University students will soon have a new opportunity to be submerged in a culture thousands of miles away from campus through the Lipscomb in Britain program set to launch this fall.
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The newest offering of Lipscomb’s Global Learning Program is based in the historic city of Bath, England, which has been in integral part of British culture since pre-Roman times. Located 97 miles west of London, Bath has played a significant historical role, has a rich architectural heritage and is the home of author Jane Austen and the Roman baths among other features.
“Bath is a beautiful city on a hillside dissected by the Avon river,” said Michael Winegeart, Global Learning Program director. “The city of Bath will literally be a textbook for our students. Even as students walk from their apartments to the classroom site they will encounter a variety of architecture and walk a path that is filled with history. The entire city is like a living museum.”
Bath was officially granted city status by Queen Elizabeth I in 1590. The city was first established as a spa by the Romans in approximately 60 AD. The Romans built baths and a temple on the surrounding hills of Bath in the valley of the River Avon around hot springs. The City of Bath was declared as a World Heritage Site in 1987. The city has a variety of theatres, museums, and other cultural and sporting venues, which have helped to make it a major center for tourism, with more than three million visitors each year.
Studying in other cultures is important as a student’s view of the world is more global in scope.
“Students today are culturally informed and unrestricted by geography,” said Winegeart. “They see, share and engage in ways no one could have imagined. Students are no longer just a citizen of a city, state or nation, but of a world that is much larger and more connected than at any other time. Global learning is an important part of the transformation of individuals, cultures and society. It’s the means by which we connect and grow, and the ways by which a wholeness is created in our life, spirit and purpose.”
Winegeart said Bath is an ideal city to serve as “home base” for students because of its rich heritage, its affordable cost of living and its proximity to other European sites and cities. Bath is located within 30 minutes of sites such as Stonehenge, Stratford upon Avon, the Cotswolds, Salisbury and Oxford. It also provides easy and affordable transportation to cities such as London, Edinburgh, Paris, Venice, Barcelona, Dublin, Vienna and others that may be explored during the semester.
The Lipscomb in Britain program is designed for university sophomores and will be offered each fall and spring semester. The program is limited to 26 students each term. The first group of students will enter the program in August. The curriculum offered includes all sophomore-level integrated core courses, such as Bible, math and science, literature, history and social science. Other courses offered include sustainability, international business and lifetime fitness in addition to other online options. Students may take up to 18 hours during the program.
An integral part of the Lipscomb in Britain program is to engage students in the local community.
“Community engagement is a key component of a Lipscomb education,” he said. “To get full benefit from any global learning experience, students need to build relationships with people in the communities in which they are submerged. We do this by getting out in these communities and participating in service projects and internships and partnering with other schools and churches in these areas. The mission of the university is closely aligned with study abroad. We are abroad planting a kingdom mindset, not as tourists.”
Winegeart said the program will forge a partnership with the University of Bath. Having local academic experts and leaders to draw on will be vital for the long-term health of the program.
Students will reside in fully furnished, modern corporate apartments located in the center of Bath. They are fully equipped with kitchens, laundry amenities, wireless access among other features. There is also a 24-hour reception area that is staffed and a secure entry system.
The cost of the Lipscomb in Britain program is $2,800 in addition to the set semester tuition, room and board fee. The program fee includes airfare, all transfers, group excursions, a weeklong field trip at a location in Europe and admission to various sites and museums among other expenses. Students will also receive a monthly meal plan reimbursement to cover meals.
The fall 2013 program is full, but applications are being accepted for the spring 2014 program.
Lipscomb’s Global Learning Program also offers study abroad opportunities in Europe, based in Vienna, Austria; and in Latin America, based in Santiago, Chile; in addition to other program through partnering institutes. Winegeart said student demand for Lipscomb’s global programs is growing rapidly, keeping in step with employer expectations for graduates with global competency skills.
For more information about Lipscomb in Britain or Global Learning call 615.966.2100 or visit globallearning.lipscomb.edu.