By Noah Westreich

Last year, “Perspectives on Globalization,” a joint study abroad program designed and coordinated by Macalester and the Netherlands’ Maastricht University, was placed on a hiatus after five years due to lack of interest. The program will return for the 2011-2012 academic year, but with several substantial changes intended to bolster interest.The coordinators of the program, Michael Monahan, Director of the International Center, and Professor Ahmed Samatar, Dean of the Institute for Global Citizenship, are implementing several changes to the format of the program in an effort to attract more students.

One of the most substantial changes will be the duration of the program. Formerly, the fall semester was spent independently in a location of the student’s choice, with the second half of the year consisting of an intensive January seminar and spring semester of classes, both at MU. The new program will consist of a three-week intensive seminar in August, taught in The Hague, Netherlands by Samatar, and a fall semester at MU.

“I think that without having to commit to a whole year away, more people will be open to the program,” said Aimee Mackie ’13, an International Studies major who is considering studying abroad on the “Perspectives on Globalization” program next year.

Although Monahan agreed that the duration of the program in previous years was a major factor for some students considering the program, he said that a year abroad should theoretically seem more appealing.

“We are disappointed that we had to shorten the program,” Monahan said, “but we’ve carefully revamped it in order to attract more students.”

Students may hesitate to study abroad for a full year not wanting to miss out on the “college experience,” but Orna Karlin ’11, who studied abroad on the program last year, says she got more of the “college experience” studying at MU.

“I love Macalester, but I didn’t miss it when I was away,” she said. “It was fun to explore aspects of life that don’t get explored at Mac, since MU is a university of 15,000 students.”

The change in location is also a new element to next year’s program, and program organizers believe it will be a positive change for students. In the past, students made excursions to important northern cities such as The Hague and Amsterdam from the program’s base in Maastricht, which is located in the very south of the country.

“Having the seminar in The Hague means proximity to the institutions we’re trying to look at in our study of globalization, such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice,” Monahan said. “The location move is an improvement.”

Despite these changes, according to program coordinators the core of the program remains the same. Participants will be required to complete an independent study project upon their return to Macalester in the spring. The project includes a 6,000 word Perspectives on Globalization essay and an oral presentation at the Perspectives on Globalization Symposium.

“Student papers from the program are phenomenal,” Monahan said, adding that some papers have gone on to serve as honors theses or senior capstones. “I’ve had people tell me they are comparable to masters level work.”

Student interest is the determining factor of the success of the program. So far, a dozen students have expressed interest by attending an information session. The minimum number of students the program requires is six.

Former students of the program are glad to see it come back. “This program has the soul of the IGC,” said Karlin. “It follows in the tradition of looking at things not just from one point of view, but from vastly different perspectives.”

study of globalization, such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice,” Monahan said. “The location move is an improvement.”

Despite these changes, according to program coordinators the core of the program remains the same. Participants will be required to complete an independent study project upon their return to Macalester in the spring. The project includes a 6,000 word Perspectives on Globalization essay and an oral presentation at the Perspectives on Globalization Symposium.

“Student papers from the program are phenomenal,” Monahan said, adding that some papers have gone on to serve as honors theses or senior capstones. “I’ve had people tell me they are comparable to masters level work.”

Student interest is the determining factor of the success of the program. So far, a dozen students have expressed interest by attending an information session. The minimum number of students the program requires is six.

Former students of the program are glad to see it come back. “This program has the soul of the IGC,” said Karlin. “It follows in the tradition of looking at things not just from one point of view, but from vastly different perspectives.