Semester at Sea

In honor of International Education Week (November 12-16), Semester at Sea sponsored an academic panel discussion on the topic of global comparative education at the University of Virginia (U.Va.). Robert Waters, vice president of academic affairs, will moderated the discussion among panelists Jeff Legro, U.Va. vice provost of global affairs; Les McCabe, president of ISE/SAS; and Lisa Reilly, a previous academic dean and associate professor in the Department of Architectural History at U.Va. The panelists addressed the following questions: What are the advantages of placing the world's challenges into a comparative framework? Does, and how does, global comparative education foster increased cross-cultural understanding, collaboration, and create a platform for interdisciplinary discussions and work? How can students get this type of education on their home campuses and/or abroad

The political atmosphere throughout the Middle East has reached a critical point, but the events that have lead us to where we are today began many months ago, in a time often referred to as the “Arab Spring.” In this interesting and introspective podcast, Semester at Sea students discuss the events of the Arab Spring, a timely discussion concerning the protests currently happening in the Middle East and North Africa. Listen as students share their personal stories, reactions and thoughts as we delve further into the events of the Arab Spring and the current political climate in certain Middle Eastern nations. * Podcast edited and composed by Rebecca Ferlotti of John Carroll University

Scott Seamans, the co-founder and designer of Crocs, is also a Semester at Sea alum. From his first time on Semester at Sea as a student at the University of Colorado, to his involvement with Semester at Sea today, Scott shares with us the lessons he has learned along the way. How has his time on board affected his professional life? What lessons has he learned through Semester at Sea and what advice does he offer today's students? Find out in this exclusive interview!

On an early August morning at 5 a.m., Sarah Cosgrove, a PhD interport student from the National University of Ireland, sat in Executive Dean John Tymitz’ office and dialed back to her home country of Ireland from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. In her 10 minute interview with presenter John Murray of RTE Radio One in Ireland, Sarah shared her thoughts on the Semester at Sea program, how she feels it helps offer students a more global perspective, and how participating in this voyage has affected her studies

As we have been sailing on the Summer 2012 voyage, the US Supreme Ct. ruled on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. Dr. Robert Powers, Professor of Medicine and Emergency Medicine at the University of Virginia, presents to the shipboard community on the elements of the Affordable Care Act, the problems that led to the creation of this law, and his thoughts on what will happen as a result of it being upheld. Please enjoy this engaging presentation and conversation with our shipboard community. (audio edited by Eris Qian)

Rami Nofal from Belmont University, Alaa Taha from Stanford University, Maysaa Ambu-Saidi from University of North Texas, Shae McPherson from Cabrini College, and Mariame Fofana from Seton Hall University lead a panel discussion to teach fellow shipmates about Islamic practice and their Muslim faith before the MV Explorer ports in Morocco, a country where Islam is the state religion. Join our shipboard community as they get a better look at the lives and faith of these five students.

Al Calarco is the Lifelong Learners Coordinator on the Summer 2012 voyage. He is no newbie to Semester at Sea, Al has sailed around the world twice before as the Dean of Student Life in F95 and S08. In preparation for this voyage, and specifically Naples, Italy, Al started to looking into his Italian family tree, and what he found was unexpected and heartwarming. Please take a few minutes to listen to Al’s story; I believe it will brighten your day as it did mine

Students listen to our interport artists Chris Tilghman, author of The Right-Hand Shore and Caroline Preston, author of The Journals of Frankie Pratt, talk about their creative process and read excerpts from their books.

In addition to regularly scheduled classes, on occasion the faculty will host what's called an Explorer Seminar. This seminar focuses on the Mediterranean as the link between Euro, African, and Middle Easter cultures. Our panelists discuss the influences that have left lasting imprints on the states surrounding this very important body of water. Please take some time to listen to this Explorer Seminar; have a shared experience with our students, and join us on our voyage of discovery.

Executive Dean Kenn Gaither addresses the students and welcomes them aboard. He believes this 110th voyage will be the best one yet and offers some wisdom, from his experience as a student, staff and faculty member, to ensure it will be.

Global Studies is the only class on Semester at Sea that every student is required to take. It serves to give context to the upcoming port of call’s place in the world. Peter Sanchez, of Loyola University Chicago, is the Global Studies professor aboard the Short Term 2012 voyage. The podcast below is an excerpt from Sanchez’s Global Studies class in which he lectures on Ecuador, some theories and problems of international development and how some of those might be fixed

Global Studies is the only class on Semester at Sea that every student is required to take. It serves to give context to the upcoming port of call's place in the world. Peter Sanchez, of Loyola University Chicago, is the Global Studies professor aboard the Short Term 2012 voyage. The podcast below is an excerpt from Sanchez's Global Studies class in which he lectures on the history of Peru, including it's ancient civilizations and colonization

Global Studies is the only class on Semester at Sea that every student is required to take. It serves to give context to the upcoming port of call's place in the world. Peter Sanchez, of Loyola University Chicago, is the Global Studies professor aboard the Short Term 2012 voyage. The podcast below is an excerpt from Sanchez's Global Studies class in which he lectures on Peru, the broader context of Latin America, and some challenges in achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals

Executive Dean Luke Jones and Academic Dean Rosalyn Berne introduced themselves to the students during the welcome orientation on May 21st. This was the students' first chance to learn about the people behind the dean titles. Listen to the podcast below to get a sense of the depth.

Spring 2012 students discover the fundamental beauty of Dominica through an underwater field excursion.