Diversity in Study Abroad Workshop

Diversity in Study Abroad Workshop held on-campus at the UW Husky Union Building (February 9, 2024)

Participating in study abroad is a high-impact learning experience that is often transformative for students and can have lasting effects throughout their professional and everyday lives. Study abroad, however, is not accessible to all, and represents an important axis of inequality in higher education. The February 9 workshop, co-organized by the Center for Global Studies and Green River College with support from the UW Office of Global Affairs, focused on ways of addressing the barriers that students with disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+, first-generation, and other historically marginalized groups often face when pursuing study abroad.

Representatives from Bellevue College, Seattle Colleges, and Green River College led an interactive session on addressing barriers to study abroad.

The nearly 40 participants represented over a dozen colleges, universities, and study abroad organizations from across Washington state and beyond. Participants learned from the experience of study abroad faculty and administrators, as well as representatives of Diversity Abroad, Mobility International, and the Amandla Project during this half-day workshop open to all four-year and community college faculty and staff. 

Presentations included Disability Inclusion and Access in Study Abroad, as well as interactive workshop activities such as Addressing Barriers to Study Abroad.