Custom Designed Short Courses

Short courses are typical 10 days to 4 weeks in duration (but can certainly be longer if requested) and can be offered most anytime during the year.   These faculty-led customized programs typically occur during January or May-August each year, be can also be programmed at times outside of that period if desired.

A standard course covers one academic area with lectures, site visits and field trips throughout the program. Lectures are offered by either (or both) the home or host university faculty. Accommodations, meals, and travel is scheduled by the on-site center to allow for smooth flow and movement of the student group.

Our South Pacific Educational Support Centre (SPES) provides in-country, on-ground support by meeting groups upon arrival, giving an on-site orientation, providing the group leader with a cell phone, maps and other resources, and having 24/7 availability throughout the duration of the program.   Group leaders will feel especially confident knowing the staff and resources of our "SPES" team are at their disposal.

AustraLearn and GlobaLinks Learning Abroad offer our customized programs in the South Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Fiji) and also throughout much of Asia. Contact Steve Luther, Manager of Faculty & Academic Outreach in our Colorad-based office for more details and how to get started. 800-980-0033, ext. 114 or sluther@globalinksabroad.org

Custom courses allow for the greatest “marriage” between the faculty traveling with the group, the home university who will dictate the credit for the course, and the hosting program provider where flexibility is standard practice. Over the long term, custom courses impact student learning in a greater fashion through tailored lectures, site visits and field trips all focused on the development of one academic program concept.

With a custom course you can: 

• Develop the academic content in consultation with the faculty who will teach it. 
   
• Determine the course credit for your students and those outside your university
  
• Offer professional development throughout a department by utilizing faculty as course leaders
  
• Set the program dates and duration to those that suit your institution best 
  
• Request the places and events you want the group to see
  
• Specify the type of housing and meal options best suited to your students
  
• Decide the way you want to administer the program with or without assistance from the U.S. office of AustraLearn.

Faculty help the institution further its international educational goals through short course programs and can enhance their own curriculum development through cross-cultural learning overseas. The institution gains further international exposure and allows global awareness and faculty development to flourish. Students see international awareness at work within the university walls thereby drawing them closer to the institution and its mission. Students continue to develop personally while abroad and can clarify career aspirations through hands-on experiences.

For reasons of academic progress and/or limitation of non-major type credits, a student may not be able to undertake a semester-long program. In addition, shorter term programs can cost less than a semester option and may appeal to a wider range of students who desire to delve deeper into one specific academic area while abroad and who may have a particular interest to travel with a group.

Arranging for a custom designed short course takes planning both in North America and abroad. AustraLearn ensures that this process is achievable for any/all faculty no matter if they have led a group abroad before by doing the following: 

1. Initial Phone Consultation with both the interested faculty person (if designated) and the International Office at your Univeristy, and our staff.
   
2. A "Short Course Survey Form" is filled out by the home university in detail and returned to AustraLearn - a sample itinerary and program model will developed and returned to you.  To get a copy of the Survey Form, simply email our office.
   
3. Through consultation directly between the Australian Center and the home university, modifications are    made to the itinerary to further develop interests and maintain a budget. 
   
4. We can help with student recruitment, admissions, travel, visas, insurance, and faculty training - as much or little as you need.
   
5. The home university has the choice of either:
   A. Recruiting for students at their home campus.
   
   B. Recruiting for students through AustraLearn's Nationwide University Network.

Program-related arrangements for all custom courses are made through our Australia-based South Pacific Educational Support Center, which has decades of experience and expertise in the Asia-Pacific Region:

• Faculty, local experts and industry lecturers chosen for their interest and expertise in the subject area
  
• Detailed itinerary and proposal developed in cooperation with your office 
  
• Establish a program within a reasonable budget that meets your university's and students' needs
  
• Secure all reservations, including airfare for your group if desired
  
• Disbursement of all payments to suppliers for your program
  
• Safety and Security Measures with 24/7 on-call support in country
  

All short-term travel/study programs include accommodation suited to your needs or requirements, transportation from the USA or Canada to the point of entry in Australia or New Zealand and all transportation throughout the scheduled program. Special events, field trips, guides, and entrance fees are part of each program. Meals can be included or partially included depending on the type of program you desire.

• Promotion and recruitment of other students - we can help your faculty with on-campus recruitment and marketing if desired.
  
• Toll-free enrollment assistance
  
• Fee collection with direct payments from students
  
• Advice and Provision of Adequate Insurance
  
• Pre-departure Orientation Meeting at Your Campus
  
• Visa and Airline Ticket Assistance

To Get More Information About Our Custom Courses

Starting the process of designing a custom course for your university and students is easy.  Simply contact Steve Luther, Manager of Faculty and Academic Outreach at our Colorado-based office at 1-800-980-0033 or email at sluther@globalinksabroad.org.