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International service work available at ISU Sam Lewis Reporter
Indiana State University is now allowing students to experience international service work for various majors. During spring break, Robyn Lugar, chairperson of the social work department, took three students to South Korea to not only experience a different culture, but to make a difference. During their time there the students, Alyssa Byers, Christina Monteleone and Heather Tuell, had the opportunity to visit several social work agencies as well as interact with other social work students at Hanil University in Jeon Ju, South Korea. Although this is the first time the course has been open to all majors, traveling abroad to different social work agencies for Lugar is not a new concept. “We have had for the last 14 years several international collaborations. We have gone to Russia, Morocco, South Kore and Guatemala,” Lugar said. “Each university we attend is very unique. Whether it is in Russia or Morocco, each institution we have gone to varies in practices as well as progress in advanced practices.” Originally this opportunity to experience other social work agencies abroad was only open to students with a focus in social work; however, this past semester their course has widened their horizon giving an opportunity to students who want to do more than just spend their spring break in the states and instead spend a week in South Korea or Guatemala. “We decided we wanted to put forth a course that meets undergraduate requirements. So we now have a social work 450 International Social Work course,” Lugar said. “Each trip is faculty led, and although the main focus of this trip is to experience different social work agencies, we are looking at allowing this trip to be applicable for other majors such as nursing, psychology, as well as other majors. [We] can take up to 10 students for each group and are looking for a wide array of diverse students in different majors.”
While traveling abroad for a semester or summer may be financially difficult, Lugar explained how collaboration between the social work department and the international office has allowed this program to offer two grants that will help cover the costs associated with travel. “Many students can’t afford to go study abroad for a summer or a semester, so this course gives students a great opportunity to get to travel over spring break, as well as in future fall breaks,” Lugar said. During this course students meet before the experience to discuss various topics regarding their trip such as variance in culture, theory associated with the designated institution, as well as various materials on the conditions of the facilities in which they will be visiting. With their being two locations offered to students, Guatemala and South Korea, each course is designed to fit the institution in which they are visiting. “During the Guatemala trip students were more focused on helping an orphanage down there, while on our trip to South Korea our students focused more on visiting and interacting with different establishments such as mental health agencies, hospitals, and other agencies,” Lugar said. Although students who attended these courses got first hand experiences with the social work agencies, Lugar explained. During the day, the students that came with her to South Korea spent the day visiting three to four agencies followed by an evening of attending classes at Hanil University to meet and openly discuss with other future social workers from that institution. On April 4th the students who took the trip will be presenting over their time spent in South Korea to the public in Rhodes Hall lounge from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. “It’s a great thing to put on your resume, and it’s over all a great experience. It changes your life, whether through making new friends or just experiencing culture in a different light,” Lugar said. “Even a week makes a big difference.”
Monday, April 2, 2012 • Page 3