Santa Clara University
AC-5: Immersive Experience

The SCU Study Abroad Office has approved the following sustainability-focused immersion programs
• Germany: Berlin - Business, Sustainability, and Innovation (Winter Quarter) program takes full advantage of Berlin’s position as an economic powerhouse and global leader in sustainability, as well as the city’s entrepreneurial spirit. The English-taught courses in topics such as Business Ethics, International Marketing, and Global Business are viewed through the lens of Berlin and Germany, using local startups and corporations as case studies. Students learn firsthand the significant challenges involved in balancing financial success with sustainability. https://international.scu.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=10357
• Costa Rica: Atenas - Environmental Justice from the Ground Up (Summer Quarter) program tackles the challenging topic of environmental justice from a community point-of-view. Students dive into the themes of food sovereignty, water access and management, tourism’s impact on biodiversity, and the development of sustainable resource alternatives. Students explore diverse perspectives on controversial environmental management issues, learn to conduct community-based data collection, and assist community members in reaching their own solutions to natural resource management and protection. https://international.scu.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=10402

The Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education Immersion Trips, both local and global, are designed to help participants see the world with new eyes, to recognize the unjust suffering in a context that is different to their own, practice solidarity with marginalized communities, and to allow those experiences to inform their vocational discernment. In Summer 2022, the Ignatian Center led an 8-day immersion trip to Costa Rica to hear from the local people, community experts, and leaders who are striving to create a stronger and more just society. Each from a different perspective, from environmental and indigenous justice and the complexities of ecotourism, to the first-hand stories of migration, immigration, and deportation woven among the interactive experiences and daily reflection sessions. https://www.scu.edu/ic/programs/immersions/immersion-locations/costa-rica/

Through the Center for Food Innovation and Entrepreneurship, BUSN 151A&B is a Winter/Spring course that blends short lectures, guided discussions, reflections, and an 11-day trip in a developing country. It was designed to increase students’ understanding of the role of food in the world’s populations and to explore the role of business in alleviating poverty through development and the pursuit of social justice. Ecuador was selected for the Spring Break 2022 immersive study trip. https://www.scu.edu/business/cfie/immersions/