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Destination Workshops
How are global goals taught and achieved around the world? What skills and knowledge do we need to make a difference? Where in the world is the best fit for us as an individual? We invite representatives of educational institutions to share their experiences and give our students their best advice.
Through these destination workshops, students learn how to continue developing their passion as they chart their way into higher education and the professional world.
These Destination Workshops are offered in conjunction with Buddies Without Borders Online Forums and/or BWB Club global meetings,
Contact us if you are interested in offering a Workshop to help our future leaders.
Service Learning
Fellowship with A Tree That Grows, Tanzania
Lauren Schmidt, MSW is a social entrepreneur and founder of A Tree That Grows, where she helps build the next generation of teen social entrepreneurs. She is a graduate of Columbia University, a member of the Association of International Educators and the Association of International Schools in Africa. Lauren has lived in Tanzania for 10 years working as a Dean of Students on international development projects. Lauren currently helps students share their unique impact in essays as an App Mentor at Crimson Education, resulting in acceptance at Havard, Yale, MIT, Columbia, and many more.
Loans that Change Lives
KIVA, USA
Natalie Ngu is a Strategic Partnerships Associate of KIVA. Kiva (www.kiva.org) is a mission-driven technology non-profit. We run a global marketplace platform for crowd-funded micro-loans to serve the financially excluded in sectors such as education, water, clean energy, and refugee resettlement. Kiva combines the culture and approach of an internet start-up with a mission to alleviate poverty. We aim to drive social impact and enable opportunity while providing a borrower-to-lender connection: “Loans that change lives." In just 15 years, Kiva has raised nearly $1.5 billion in loan capital for more than 2 million borrowers in 84 countries. Kiva’s lenders fund over $1 million in loans every 3 days.
Health and Wellness While
Pursuing Excellence
International Education, Brazil
Valmir Gomes is an international educator and leader with experience in Brazil, China and the USA. He has worked as a humanities and technology teacher. In school leadership, he has worked as an Academic Dean, Student Dean and Principal and Educational Technology Specialist. He is currently a consultant in projects involving business development, educational initiatives and team development. Some of the companies he works with are PLUSSED+ and the Institute for Development Impact. In his last principal position, he led the Middle and Upper School Division of Whittle School & Studios in Washington, DC.
See the World from Down Under
University of Melbourne, Australia
Explore Global Careers
Arizona State University, USA
Julia Tebben focuses on ensuring that international students have the resources they need to find career satisfaction and success. Prior to coming to ASU she taught English in Busan, South Korea and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ojtjiwarango, Namibia. Julia has also directed multiple study-abroad programs to the Dominican Republic and worked in various non-profits focusing on development and fundraising. She is passionate about positive change through service, education, and cultural exchange, and enjoys helping others to capitalize on their skills in order to make a difference in the communities.
Live & Learn in Portugal, Netherlands and France with
Forward College, EU
Andrew Hand is a broadly experienced secondary educator serving 37 years as a teacher, administrator and educational leader around the world. He has led international education committees within the Educational Collaborative for International Schools and the Association of Australian IB Schools. Andrew currently serves on the Advisory Board for Global Education Destinations, Forward College and Pioneering Schools. He will share the advantages of studying at Forward College in this workshop.
Understanding Sustainability
Veritas University, Costa Rica
In October 2021, Dr. Barahona shared with us what it is like studying ecotourism at Veritas University in Costa Rica. Veritas University is known for its innovative creative industry bachelor’s and Licenciatura degrees. Veritas has hosted 700+ students per year at the Center for International Programs & Sustainability Studies.
Dr. Barahona developed experience in leadership, executive management, financial oversight, community relations, strategic planning, and project development. She is committed to education initiatives with a socio-economic and environmental impact focus both at local and global levels. Alejandra is passionate about creating educational opportunities for students who want to explore sustainability and social justice in Costa Rica.
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An Entrepreneurial Mindset
IE University, Spain
In December 2021, Mane Nalbandyan shared with us what it is like studying social media in Spain. Mane is originally from Armenia when she started her career as a marketing and social media expert in a gaming company. She has always been passionate about education and moved to the international education sector for the past 5 years. She works as a Senior Regional Manager for the Asia Pacific region in IE University´s Global Markets team. Having international education and spending a year in IE University, she is now based in Madrid and heads IE´s international offices in Asia and Oceania in order to guide students through their educational journey.
Turning Green into Gold
IUPUI, USA
In October 2021, Dr. Liu-Lasres shared with us what it is like studying Sports Tourism in IUPUI, USA. IUPUI is ranked 2nd in the United States and #28 globally in Sustainability by Times Higher Education. It is a nine-time winner of the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity from Insight into Diversity and it is among the Top 50 US universities for Best Undergraduate Teaching as ranked by US News and World. Dr. Liu-Lastres, the workshop leader, focuses her research on risk and crisis communication / management in tourism and hospitality, tourist safety and security, social media in tourism and hospitality, and tourism management.
A Global Outlook
NYU (UAE Campus)
Ango Mwakisu has been serving as a recruitment and admissions officer for more than 10 years. Originally from the beautiful land of Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, Tanzania, Ango is an alumnus of Jacobs University where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Communications, Systems and Electronics. He is an active member of the International Advisory Committee of the Collegeboard and the Governance and Nominating Committee of the International Association for College Admission Counseling. Mwakisu recently joined NYU in Abu Dhabi to continue his work in international recruitment counseling.
Future of Knowledge
Research at Jacobs University, Germany
Sofana Rojas is the admission counselor for undergraduate students at Jacobs University. Originally from Nicaragua, in Central America, Sofana reived a Master’s degree in International Human Resources with a specialization in training and recruiting. As a person who has lived in many different countries, Sofana is passionate about cultural exchange, diversity and education. She truly believes in empowering and motivating the younger generations to explore, travel, and become citizens of the world
Achieving Dreams of Studying Abroad
UK, Scotland and Beyond
Phil Garner has been in education for more than 35 years. He taught Biology and Physical Education, supported domestic and international students in Canada, US and UK. Phill was the founding headmaster of Newcastle School for Boys (UK) and was one of the founding directors of an innovative Free School based in the West End of Newcastle upon Tyne in UK. Currently, Phil is working with students who are applying for universities in the USA, Canada, UK, Scotland and beyond. Phil is passionate about helping students to find scholarships and financial aid to achieve their dreams of studying abroad.
Mental Health for the World
International Psychology with
The Chicago School, USA
Sabrina Bahir is the Director of Global Enrollment Management at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in the U.S. She is a former private school principal and volunteer ambassador to Ukraine on behalf of Israel. Her vision is to provide equitable access to education in the U.S. and advocate for the unique needs of international students. Sabrina is also a current doctoral student in the field of International Psychology and is researching the eradication of statelessness in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa, in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Global Economy and Development
Brookings Institute, USA
In October 2021, Dr. Emily Markovich Morris shared with us her research on social justice and equality through formal and conformal education as the Director of the International Training and Education Program at the American University. Dr. Morris is a scholar and educator of comparative education and international development whose research explores how to build collaborations between learning institutions, families, and communities to support marginalized youth in reaching their educational, work, and life aspirations. As a fellow in the Center for Universal Education, Morris coordinates family engagement in education efforts and leads research on leveraging family-school-community partnerships to transform educational systems.
Green Tourism
Tung Nan University, Taiwan
In October 2021, Dr. Victor Tao shared with us what it is like working with NGOs in Taiwan on green tourism. Dr. Tao is a geographer who seeks the key to peace and sustainable development for all human kinds. He has given speeches and led many geographical and geological research projects in Taiwan, China, New Zealand and the Netherlands. Most recently he co-led the Project for Social Responsibility, funded by the Department of Education in Taiwan (Republic of China).
Victor is also a Research Fellow at Taiwan International Institute for Water Education, a UNESCO partner. Victor has a PhD in Geography from National Taiwan University.