Study Abroad: ACM Botswana: University Immersion in Southern Africa

ACM Botswana: University Immersion in Southern Africa

Location: Botswana: Gaborone

Term: Spring

Dates: Spring semester (January-May)

ACM - Associated Colleges of the Midwest

205 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 220 Chicago, IL 60606 United States

Description

An African success story, Botswana is endowed with rich mineral resources, including diamonds, and has benefited from uninterrupted and effective civilian leadership since independence in 1966. Its government has negotiated contracts with multinational corporations such as DeBeers, which stand in stark contrast to the exploitation of African resources during much of the colonial era. The returns from its mineral wealth, augmented with income from tourism, cattle ranching, and financial services, have been invested in education and various social services. As a leader in SADC (Southern African Development Community), Botswana has played a leading role in the region since the 1980s, from the time that South Africa was still under apartheid, and more recently in negotiations with Mugabe's Zimbabwe. Although, like many other countries in Africa, it has had to confront the problem of HIV/AIDS and the resulting social disruptions, Botswana demonstrates that progressive social policies can mitigate some of the effects of the disease. Botswana thus provides both a healthy antidote to the negative characterizations of Africa often found in American media and a rich array of possible solutions to the various crises of the third world.

The ACM Botswana program is expressly designed for students with interests in politics, political economy, economic and social development, public health, and environmental studies. Housed at the University of Botswana in Gaborone, Botswana's capital, the program is offered each spring semester, and combines formal class study with site visits to places in and around Gaborone and an independent research project (for credit). Classes include Setswana language, a course taught by the ACM faculty director, and an elective course at the University of Botswana.

During the semester-long program, students are housed in a graduate residence hall at the University of Botswana. Among the excursions typically planned are a weekend trip to Johannesburg, South Africa; a week-long trip to Maun, near the Okavango Delta in the north; and a visit to the Jwaneng diamond mine. Students are also encouraged to volunteer with community service organizations and other non-governmental organizations.

Highlights

*Academics*

Learning objectives

The ACM Botswana: University Immersion in Southern Africa program is designed to offer students first-hand experience of African society and culture in the heart of Southern Africa through independent research and direct enrollment in an African university staffed by leading faculty from around the continent.

The program has four overall learning goals:

* To develop broad understanding of an African society and inter-cultural literacy through cultural immersion both within and beyond the University;
* To deepen knowledge of African development, environmental, and cultural issues through direct enrollment at the University of Botswana;
* To develop the ability to design and conduct mentored, place-based independent research;
* To develop a working knowledge of the Setswana language to facilitate and enrich engagement with the Botswanan people.

In addition to learning in the lecture-style of teaching prevalent in much of the rest of the world, the program provides students with discussion-based course instruction common at small liberal arts colleges in the U.S. Students enroll in three courses: a Setswana language course taught by a University of Botswana faculty member, a course taught by the ACM faculty director in his/her area of expertise, and an elective course at the University of Botswana. An independent study project (ISP), supervised by the ACM faculty director, provides students the opportunity for further investigation of Botswana society and culture on topics of their choice. Field excursions to the Kalahari Desert and Okavango Delta, the Jwaneng diamond mine, and Johannesburg, South Africa, augment the academic program, introducing students to two facets of Botswanas strong economy, diamonds and tourism, and providing opportunities for comparing Botswana with its southern neighbor, South Africa. As registered students at the University of Botswana housed in UB residence halls, program participants live and share classes with fellow undergraduates.

When students complete the program, they should have an understanding not only of the issues facing many African countries today, and especially those in Southern Africa, but also of the possible solutions that can be implemented. In addition, students should have the ability to define, conduct, and write up a significant independent project as well as a command of Setswana sufficient to allow for basic conversations and interactions.

*University of Botswana*

A tribute to the nations foresight and commitment to higher education, the University of Botswana is one of the most modern on the African continent. It is equipped with curricular and extra-curricular facilities that can rival and surpass those of many American universities.

Particularly impressive is the UB Library, which has numerous computer stations, reliable Internet access and substantial study facilities, including a modern auditorium and a learning resource centre with many electronic databases. It holds 350,000 books and over 9,000 full text journals. The University also has strong classroom and dormitory facilities.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$:

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Cost Includes:

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Credit Available

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participant.

Typical Living Arrangements

Dormitory

Application Process Involves

Letters of Reference
Online Application plus Application Assessment
Transcript
Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

2-3 weeks after deadline has passed

ACM - Associated Colleges of the Midwest's Mission Statement

The Associated Colleges of the Midwest, a consortium of residential liberal arts colleges, aims to strengthen its member colleges as leaders, and exemplars, in liberal arts education through significant, innovative, and sustainable collaborations. One key component of ACM is to provide exemplary liberal arts learning through a wide variety of off-campus study programs. Almost all of ACM's off-campus study programs around the world are open to students from any college or university.

Year Founded

1958