BC has been named one of just 34 U.S. colleges and universities in 28 U.S. states to be awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students (IDEAS) Program.
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BC has been named one of just 34 U.S. colleges and universities in 28 U.S. states to be awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students (IDEAS) Program.
The selected proposals will develop new international partnerships, train faculty and staff, internationalize curriculum, engage diverse students in study abroad, broaden the destinations where U.S. students study, and create virtual and hybrid exchanges.
BC will send three faculty members to the Normandy region of France to build a short-term study abroad course that will employ virtual reality and augmented reality components (collectively known as XR or eXtended Reality) to supplement the course. This course will include an overview of Normandy with special attention focused on first-time visitors and students with disabilities. The goal is to ease adjustment through an immersive approach. BC is partnering with the University of Caen at Normandy for the project.
Since 2016, the IDEAS Program has awarded 179 grants to 173 U.S. colleges and universities in 49 states and territories to create, expand, and diversify their U.S. study abroad programs in 71 countries across all world regions. In addition to the IDEAS grants, the program offers opportunities for international educators at U.S. colleges and universities to participate in free virtual and in-person study abroad capacity-building activities.
“Increasing and diversifying U.S. students going abroad for educational opportunities, as well as diversifying the places where they study, is a State Department priority,” said Lee Satterfield, Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. “This year’s recipients reflect the true greatness of America – our diversity – as almost 25 percent represent two-year institutions, 40 percent represent minority-serving institutions, and 25 percent represent rural-serving institutions.
The BC XR Lab is committed to the application of new virtual reality and simulation technologies as tools for thought, offering students and guests the opportunity to augment their learning through immersive, multi-sensory experiences. The lab works closely with eLearning, and offers state-of-the-art virtual reality display devices, educational software for interactive learning experiences, and an open-source networked video conference classroom space that features presenters from across the world.
Last Updated June 21, 2023