The Study Abroad in Africa Initiative
We are delighted to announce that the Center for African Studies has received a generous donation from the Mad Rose Foundation! With this donation, we are launching a Study Abroad in Africa Initiative that will offer significant financial support to undergraduate students who have always wanted to go on a study abroad or to visit Africa.
The funds will be dedicated to developing new programs, increasing the enrollment of existing programs in Africa, and providing equitable study abroad opportunities for students across the Rutgers campuses (in New Brunswick, Camden, and Newark). We are open to a range of ideas for new programs. They may be focused on one country in Africa or multi-sited; and they may be during the summer, inter-session, or embedded with a semester course.
CAS is working closely with Rutgers Global—Study Abroad to coordinate this initiative. We seek a variety of course offerings in a variety of countries to enhance students’ engagement in African Studies.
As a condition of support, we ask that faculty and students attend a special event in the Fall Semester following their stay in Africa to share their experiences with other students, faculty, and administrators. The event will help to expand our undergraduate community and promote the study abroad programs in Africa.
The donation fund will significantly reduce program fees for undergraduate students regardless of individual need (the amount will depend on how many programs operate in any given year), and it will provide stipends to faculty and graduate students directing new programs (for a maximum of $3000 for faculty and $1500 for PhD students per program).
Study abroad scholarship opportunities for students include the short-term study abroad programs, and the semester-long study program. Funding has been made possible by the generosity of two donors.
For semester-long study abroad, students may apply for the Wangari Maathai Memorial Scholarship Fund through Rutgers Global-Study Abroad.
Funding Categories and Links to the Application Forms:
Preliminary Visit to Africa
Apply here if you are seeking funds to travel to Africa to set up a new Study Abroad Program. Please submit the proposal no less than 6 months before planned visit. This will entail finding collaborators in-country to assist with the program. CAS will support up to two people (faculty or a combination of one faculty member and one graduate student or administrator) for the preliminary visit (typically around 2 weeks-long).
New Study Abroad Program
New Study Abroad Program: If you already have collaborators, a syllabus, and a program, please submit the proposal to CAS for review. Plan to submit the proposal at least 14 months before the planned launch. Programs are expected to range between 2-6 weeks-long. Upon approval, CAS will provide funds to subsidize the program and offer stipends for faculty and graduate assistants. The amount of support available will vary year-to-year depending on the number of programs running, the length of the program, and the number of students enrolled.
Existing Study Abroad Program
Existing Study Abroad Program: If you are the director of a program that is already in operation, you may apply for funding to reduce student program fees. The amount of support available will vary year-to-year depending on the number of Africa programs running, the length of the program, and the number of students enrolled. Please submit the request for funds 12-14 months before the program begins.
Photos from previous Study Abroad Programs
Study Abroad Images
