| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 71.04 |
| Liaison | Natalie Hayes |
| Submission Date | Oct. 19, 2023 |
Bentley University
AC-5: Immersive Experience
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Natalie
Hayes Associate Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Does the institution offer at least one immersive, sustainability-focused educational study program that is one week or more in length?:
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability-focused immersive program(s) offered by the institution:
Bentley offers various courses that have immersive week-long or longer programs that allow students to directly apply information and skills they are learning in class through travel study experience. Some of these courses are abroad and some of them are domestic.
MG3900: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice in South Africa: Consulting to Cross-Cultural Organizational Change
Semester Long
This course focuses on DEIJ & change in the context of a non-Western culture, South Africa, thus providing students the opportunity to understand how culture influences inclusive leadership and change in terms of positive impact on people, place, and profits. The course will focus on how culturally conditioned values, attitudes, beliefs, and norms of behavior influence leaders and their ability to advance inclusive organizations that promote gender equality, reduced inequalities, and peace, justice and a strong institutions for inclusion – three sustainable development goals (SDGs) identified by the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Students will have the opportunity to learn firsthand what barriers organizations in South Africa face regarding DEIJ and what unique strengths South African leaders and their members possess to facilitate inclusion in a context of rapid economic development, historic social unrest and imbalance, and a mosaic of cultural diversity. This course offers students the opportunity to be part of the positive changes in South Africa by engaging in a team-based project with a local organization.
NAS 403: Biodiversity, Health and Disease in Ghana
Week Long
This course will explore how natural resources, biodiversity, ecosystem services, sustainable development, and public health interact. this course will primarily be experiential as we explore firsthand, through visits to small rural villages and larger municipalities, the challenges of daily life in a sub-Saharan country. All of the issues that this course touches on—biodiversity, natural resource exploitation, food security, communicable disease transmission—are readily observable through the guidance and facilitation of local community organizers and academics that we will be interacting with over the course of our travels
GLS 3900: Global Transportation and Tourism
Semester Long
This course introduces students to the tourism and hospitality industry with special emphasis on the role of passenger transportation. We travel to Poland and Germany: two of Europe’s strongest economies, basing our studies in Warsaw, Krakow, and Munich. We examine each city's numerous diverse tourism offerings and well-developed transport infrastructure. We consider tourism in the context of contemporary events, including economic recession, currency fluctuations, and security challenges. Specific themes stimulating tourism at these locations include religion, food, drink, sports, architecture, and war. Recognizing the historical development of tourism in Europe, students will also gain insights on the industry’s growth potential for the future. We also look at tourism’s many economic, social, and environmental impacts on the host location though our class project exploring first-hand insights from local residents. This travel study experience will help prepare students for professional involvement in a variety of capacities with stakeholders in the tourism and transportation industries.
NAS 3900 From Shore to Sea: Understanding Caribbean Ecosystems & their Services
12 day trip
This is an intensive 12-day long, field-oriented course focused on understanding the ecosystem services provided by terrestrial and aquatic environments endemic to the Caribbean region. Specifically, students will explore the cultural, health, economic, and ecological importance of Bahamian ecosystems, and learn about the role that humans play in influencing these environments. Students will explore course content through daily field activities, guest lectures, tours, and self-reflection.
MG3900: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice in South Africa: Consulting to Cross-Cultural Organizational Change
Semester Long
This course focuses on DEIJ & change in the context of a non-Western culture, South Africa, thus providing students the opportunity to understand how culture influences inclusive leadership and change in terms of positive impact on people, place, and profits. The course will focus on how culturally conditioned values, attitudes, beliefs, and norms of behavior influence leaders and their ability to advance inclusive organizations that promote gender equality, reduced inequalities, and peace, justice and a strong institutions for inclusion – three sustainable development goals (SDGs) identified by the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Students will have the opportunity to learn firsthand what barriers organizations in South Africa face regarding DEIJ and what unique strengths South African leaders and their members possess to facilitate inclusion in a context of rapid economic development, historic social unrest and imbalance, and a mosaic of cultural diversity. This course offers students the opportunity to be part of the positive changes in South Africa by engaging in a team-based project with a local organization.
NAS 403: Biodiversity, Health and Disease in Ghana
Week Long
This course will explore how natural resources, biodiversity, ecosystem services, sustainable development, and public health interact. this course will primarily be experiential as we explore firsthand, through visits to small rural villages and larger municipalities, the challenges of daily life in a sub-Saharan country. All of the issues that this course touches on—biodiversity, natural resource exploitation, food security, communicable disease transmission—are readily observable through the guidance and facilitation of local community organizers and academics that we will be interacting with over the course of our travels
GLS 3900: Global Transportation and Tourism
Semester Long
This course introduces students to the tourism and hospitality industry with special emphasis on the role of passenger transportation. We travel to Poland and Germany: two of Europe’s strongest economies, basing our studies in Warsaw, Krakow, and Munich. We examine each city's numerous diverse tourism offerings and well-developed transport infrastructure. We consider tourism in the context of contemporary events, including economic recession, currency fluctuations, and security challenges. Specific themes stimulating tourism at these locations include religion, food, drink, sports, architecture, and war. Recognizing the historical development of tourism in Europe, students will also gain insights on the industry’s growth potential for the future. We also look at tourism’s many economic, social, and environmental impacts on the host location though our class project exploring first-hand insights from local residents. This travel study experience will help prepare students for professional involvement in a variety of capacities with stakeholders in the tourism and transportation industries.
NAS 3900 From Shore to Sea: Understanding Caribbean Ecosystems & their Services
12 day trip
This is an intensive 12-day long, field-oriented course focused on understanding the ecosystem services provided by terrestrial and aquatic environments endemic to the Caribbean region. Specifically, students will explore the cultural, health, economic, and ecological importance of Bahamian ecosystems, and learn about the role that humans play in influencing these environments. Students will explore course content through daily field activities, guest lectures, tours, and self-reflection.
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Link above for International Courses.
For domestic courses: https://catalog.bentley.edu/undergraduate/courses/nasc/
For domestic courses: https://catalog.bentley.edu/undergraduate/courses/nasc/
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.