Urban Studies student Michelle Liu and Liberal Arts and Sciences student Alexandra “Aleks” Korves were selected among five Guttman applicants to take EN 112 English Composition II: Writing and Rhetoric, an Honors course through Bronx Community College taught by Lecturer Andrew Rowan. Students spent one week of the class, from 4/12 through 4/20, studying in Schloss Leopoldskron, an 18th c. castle located on the outskirts of Salzburg, Austria. There, they participated in the Global Citizenship Alliance Program Seminar 33, an intensive seven-day international experience designed to develop a better understanding of the processes and effects of globalization and to explore pressing issues of global concern from a variety of perspectives. Participants paid special attention to the political, economic and cultural history of the transatlantic relationship, its future dimensions and the impact such changes may have on the rest of the world. Liu, Korves and four BCC students were assigned as a group to explore issues related to the topic of immigration through a project entitled “Hopeful Horizons.” Participants addressed anti-immigrant activity in a hypothetical European community by drafting a comprehensive proposal to create an NGO that would engage high school students, residents, businesses and cultural organizations in surveys and the arts to promote inclusion and acceptance of Caribbean immigrants. (See the Padlet created by Guttman Director of Academic Operations Ayechia Perez-Cruz with
annotated photos from students, faculty and staff participants from Bronx and Guttman Community Colleges.
“I came into this program feeling like I had a grasp of what it was… and it was so much more than expected. Not only did I meet some incredible mentors, but I also had the privilege to connect with a few of the most brilliant, conscientious, dedicated minds attending CUNY. Combining real world scenarios with critical analysis, this was truly the definition of receiving a “higher education,” said Korves.
Joining the students on the trip as faculty advisor was anthropology professor Dr. Karen Williams. “My key takeaway from this experience was watching students deeply engage and form bonds with one another. While group work is often perceived negatively by students, this experience proved different. The topic of global citizenship was fascinating, but equally beautiful was observing students develop a deep sense of trust, responsibility, and friendship within their small groups as they collaborated throughout the week,” recalled williams. “While I’ve always been an advocate for study abroad programs and their benefits, witnessing these lasting friendships form and seeing students develop an understanding of the world beyond themselves was truly magnificent.” She added, “I hope to continue developing this program. Ideally, we could expand participation from two students to perhaps five in the future.”
Impelled by the Global Citizenship Alliance’s programmatic goal that students would “have the desire, ability and empowerment to envision and affect positive change on their own campuses and in their local and global communities,” Guttman Director of Academic Operations Ayechia Perez-Cruz and English professor Dr. Ria Banerjee coordinated all the logistics to make this international opportunity possible for the College.
