Visit an Alliance Program Overseas

The Alliance for Global Education welcomes faculty and study abroad advisors to visit our programs overseas. Visiting our sites will better acquaint you with the unique features of Alliance programs and allow you to get to know our staff.
We are happy to arrange for you to:

  • Meet with the Resident Director
  • Tour the program facilities including student housing
  • Visit classes
  • Meet with faculty
  • Meet with local college/university administration, where applicable
  • Meet with students

If you would like to arrange a visit or speak with faculty or advisors who have visited the Alliance, please contact Charlotte Ashford, Program Officer.
 

       Comments from Faculty and Advisors who have Visited Alliance Program Sites
 

Xi'an

“I asked these students [studying in Xi’an] how they would answer the question, 'Why Xi’an?' if a Bryant student asked them about study abroad in China. They had immediate answers, the most striking of which was 'you have room to learn here.' The young woman who said that was referring to the breadth of experiences possible and the scope of co-curricular possibilities – not the physical space.”

- Dr. David Lux, Bryant University Read more!

"The Xi’an program is in an ideal place to experience China. The city oozes history, and has been at a global crossroads for centuries. Xi’an offers a look at pre-modern globalization, an ideal base for exploring minority and religious issues. For a student interested in immersing themselves in China, it may be the best place to be and Alliance offers a strong program. Students shouldn’t be afraid of going to Xi’an—Alliance will offer all the support that is needed, and Xi’an does offer enough modern conveniences and Western restaurants to offer an occasional break."

- Eric Miller, Loras College

Beijing

I was very impressed with the cohesiveness of the program curriculum. It was well thought through and developed, with collaborations from very reputable experts and institutions from the U.S. and China. The three teachers I observed were energetic, enthusiastic, and well-prepared. There was obviously an established articulation in their teaching methods across different levels. My visit was well organized and communicated; their left hand definitely knows what the right hand is doing.

- Annie Liu, North Central College

Shanghai

“Both Fudan and SUFE campuses are conveniently located within Shanghai. I was most impressed by the Chinese language instruction and curricular design, and I thought the extra-curricular activities were great additions. In fact, I was really pleased to see the language pedagogy used. Both the lead language instructors are excellent teachers who are familiar with the expectations in a U.S. classroom and know how to work with the local teachers. I also enjoyed my short visit to Prof. Tong’s lecture class at SUFE, which involved active teacher-student interactions and some very good discussions.

In comparing the Alliance with other study abroad affiliations, I want to highlight the following program strengths:  1) smaller in size; 2) offering more content courses in the humanities area (i.e. the Xi’an Program); 3) very strong in language instruction; 4) very responsive administrative support from your US office and onsite programs; 5) website offers a lot of info and is clearly presented (great promotional video clips, good faculty visit feedback, course descriptions with teacher CVs, etc.).”

- Professor Lotus Perry, University of Puget Sound

“I’d call the consistency in the Alliance language program one of its greatest strengths. It reaches across all sites and all instructors. Roommates, focused academic programs, language instruction – these are real strengths. One of the things that I found most impressive is the way that the Resident Directors here have worked to integrate their academic goals with the co-curricular programming."

- Dr. David Lux, Bryant University Read more!

"The curriculum at both Fudan and SUFE are strong, with plentiful opportunities for students to experience and learn about the Chinese culture and language. Extracurricular activities such as cooking classes, painting, and kung fu complement this. I think the opportunity to live with Chinese roommates is a critical element of students' language learning and cultural immersion. Also the Capstone Project allows students to gain firsthand experience with the culture while learning. The internship option for the SUFE students is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable work experience as well as an insight into Chinese business culture. I think both Shanghai programs are excellent for students with prior Chinese language or who are serious about learning Chinese."

- Dr. Rebecca Pisano, Towson University

Pune

“The Alliance program in Pune is among the best programs I have visited.  I was thoroughly impressed by all aspects.  There is a clear emphasis on academic rigor and this is paired with opportunities for cultural integration.”

- Paul Geis, Elon University

“In my opinion, Pune, compared to big cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, is a good option for studying and living abroad.  The city has long been considered India's intellectual center and is home to many of India's top academic institutions with a thriving student scene, including Ferguson College where the program is located.

I found absolutely no issues with The Alliance for Global Education program. This conclusion is bases on two days of meetings and visits with staff, faculty, interns, students, host families, and internship business associates. I had nothing but positive experiences - everyone was welcoming, prepared, qualified, enthusiastic, and eager to help while students seemed to enjoy their experience to the fullest.”

- Inessa Stepanenko, Trinity University

"[The] students who are studying there can speak to their experience of being 'immersed' in a culture in the most meaningful way. They are engaged in their classes, the way of life in India-including festivals, customs, social and political currents and their studies. I found them to be a “transformed” bunch, impressed by their courses, instructors, travels around Pune (and in Maharashtra)… It was clear to me that the students had passed the stage of being curious tourists to engaged learners about matters that affected another country and the region, with appropriate connections to their own world back home.”

- Dr. Shekhar Deshpande, Arcadia University

"The program's leaders, Prashant and Uttaraa, are enthusiastic and deeply committed to the enterprise. They are constantly thinking of ways in which they can provide students with the necessary academic and cultural opportunities, as well as the support and encouragement to enable them to fully engage. But most especially this program is marked by its academic strengths. The faculty are genuinely enthusiastic about teaching for the program and they challenge the students intellectually with the level of discourse they are expecting. In return, the students rise to the challenges and are rewarded with a truly immersive and thoughtful experience."

- Dr. Sara Dumont, American University