Sustainability Scholars
About the Program
The goal of this program and scholarship is to promote students’ conscientious participation in education abroad activities, engaging in sustainable practices, and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Students will be prompted to “give back” by thinking more critically about how they engage with the world and act in ways that promote more sustainable and just communities, particularly as they become aware of the impacts travel can have on the environment and host communities. This program goes beyond the education abroad experience by prompting students to reflect on their experience and how peace, justice, and equity intersect with sustainable development around the world and back at “home.”
Students who apply and have been selected for this program will receive funding towards a future education abroad experience, contingent upon the successful completion of all program components.
Program Components
Before Studying Abroad
Students selected to become Sustainability Scholars will be expected to attend at least two Penn State Sustainability events, or similar events, prior to their education abroad experience.
While Abroad
Scholars are expected to continue to build their skills and knowledge about sustainability topics during their time abroad while finding ways to further existing sustainability efforts in their host communities.
Document your engagement in sustainable action abroad by posting about your experience on your social media of choice using #SustAbroad
Alternatively, please submit photos and a short write-up regarding your engagement with sustainability to EducationAbroad@psu.edu
If you are a semester-long scholar, you will also be expected to participate in Stay Local/Big Impact Small Footprint and post in the same manner as described above
Posting aims to make you ambassadors for sustainability in education abroad, engage other students in sustainability, and share these initiatives with a wider audience.
After returning from their education abroad experience
Scholars will choose a way to continue their engagement with sustainability and use their experience to serve their communities. Some potential options can be found below:
Present at the annual Undergraduate Exhibition at University Park or an equivalent event at the Scholar's campus
Present at or help organize the annual sustainability conference hosted by Penn State Global - Global Sustainable Action: It Starts With Us
Become an active member of a recognized student organization committed to sustainability (EcoReps, Student Farm, Student Sustainability Advisory Council, etc.)
Take on a student job or internship relating to sustainability. This could be one of Penn State Sustainability's student positions or any other relevant job at Penn State or in the community
In addition, Scholars are expected to meet with a small group of Education Abroad staff after their return to discuss their education abroad experience, the impact of the Sustainability Scholars program, and their future plans.
Scholar feedback and experiences will help influence future iterations of this program and shape sustainability priorities across all of Education Abroad.
Application Process
There will be one application cycle during the 2023-2024 Academic year. We encourage students planning to study abroad at any point during their academic career at Penn State to apply, but priority for this application cycle will go to students studying abroad over winter embedded 2023-24, spring '24, summer '24, and fall '24.
For the 2023-2024 Application Cycle
Applications Open: Monday, October 9th, 2023
Application Close: Sunday, November 12th, 2023, 11:59pm
Awardee Notifications by: Saturday, November 18th, 2023
In the application, students will be asked to submit an essay addressing the following prompt:
Please describe how your preferred education abroad program aligns with 1-2 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). What do you plan to do abroad and/or when you return to advance these or other SDGs in the context of your education abroad experience?
Essays must be between 250 - 500 words and can be uploaded in the application form as a Word document or pdf.
The selection committee will review applications, and those selected will be notified via email. Students will have the opportunity to officially commit to the scholars program after a careful review of all program components. After committing to the program, students will receive support from Education Abroad staff in selecting and applying to a future education abroad experience if they have not already done so. The award will be applied at the time of the experience.
Award Amounts
Embedded Program: $1,000
Summer Program (non-embedded): $1,500
Semester Program: $2,000
Eligibility
Any Penn State student, at any campus, is eligible to apply to this program, provided they plan to pursue an approved education abroad experience.
Students do not need to have an open education abroad application to apply to this program.
To receive this award, students must apply and must be selected to participate, must successfully complete all program components, and must participate in an approved Penn State education abroad experience.
Students will apply and complete engagement surveys to track participation in program components distributed by the education abroad office.
Apply to Become a Sustainability Scholar:
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