Highly impacting honors students in Panama: HGLO at the University of Maryland College Park

Abstract

Exploring Global Challenges and Solutions in Panama was developed to provide learners a deep global learning experience containing multiple facets of a high impact educational practice (Kuh, 2008) achieved through intentional assessment, thoughtful engagement with representatives of multiple local communities, challenging course assignments that encourage students to engage with the course location and perspectives represented, and ongoing learning for participants after the program is completed. Unique among global learning programs for Honors students in multiple ways, this program is intentionally designed to (i) engage a subset of Honors students interest to engaging in contemporary global affairs and issues in tailored experience; (ii) to take place in the Global South, allowing students to explore issues related to global accountability, interrelation, and social justice; and (iii) to use the SDGs as an interdisciplinary lens, allowing students to connect deeply with local issues in which that they have personal and professional interests.